Raw Strawberry-Apple Pie

This pie is so sweet and delicious it’s hard to believe it’s healthy. This is a definite favorite in my circle of friends- even among the non-health enthusiasts and epicureans.

4½ cups of nuts- either walnuts, pecans or a mixture of the two

7 dates

2 apples

1 small basket of strawberries

1½ tbsp. Vanilla

2½ tbsp. Cinnamon

Pie Pan

Place 5 dates and nuts in the food processor and blend until somewhat uniform. Add vanilla, 2 tbsp. cinnamon and salt and blend for 30 more seconds. Press 3/4 of mixture into a pie pan forming the crust. Shred apple in the food processor and set aside in a large mixing bowl. Slice strawberries by hand and add to mixing bowl. Place 2 strawberries, 2 dates and ½ tbsp. cinnamon in the food processor. Blend until smooth. Add the strawberry glaze to the mixing bowl and stir to coat. Pile the fruit mixture into the pie crust, topping it with the remainder of the crust as a "crumble" topping. It can be enjoyed immediately or put into the fridge to firm up a bit.

Pesto Quinoa Vegetables

Although light and vegetarian, this is a well-balanced meal with both protein and fat (yes, it’s possible to get protein without meat!) Quinoa is the gold standard of grains, which is funny because it’s actually a chenopod, which makes it more closely related to spinach or beets than to cereal grains like wheat. Quinoa originated in the Andean region of South America and was considered to be a sacred plant– which is easy to believe when you look at its nutritional information. Quinoa is packed with essential amino acids, meaning it contains more protein than most other things we consider “grains.” One serving of quinoa also has almost 50% of daily recommended magnesium intake. And if that’s not enough, quinoa is low on the glycemic index, high in fiber and has a considerable amount of iron.

For the Pesto:

¾ cup olive oil

2-3 bunches of basil

1 cup pine nuts

1 tsp salt

Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend until creamy.

For the Quinoa:

1 cup of quinoa- red, white or tri colored

2 cups of vegetable broth

Bring broth to a boil, add quinoa, reduce and simmer

For the Vegetables:

In 1 tablespoon of olive oil sauté some red onion, asparagus, red bell pepper and broccolini. (You could also use mushrooms, zucchini, or whatever other vegetables you like.) Once the vegetables are soft, toss in pesto and quinoa and coat evenly.

Mint Delight

Mint is an effective carminative that has a soothing, cooling effect on the digestive tract. It can be used to treat colic, fever, ulcerative colitis, cramps, and improve digestion. Kiwis are rich in enzymes, vitamin C, and potassium.

A handful of mint

2 kiwis, peeled

1 green apple, cut into wedges

 

Juice in the order listed. Drink at room temp or over ice.