As the holidays were winding down, I found myself craving a break from baked goods. There was a solid week or two when it seemed like every lunch, dinner, and dessert contained a buttery crust. While pies may have been the culprit for my baking-related malaise, as the new year approached I envisioned taking a firm step away from cooked food in general. This led me to plan a menu for a week of raw food!
Now that the holidays are over fresh fruits and vegetables are a nice change of pace to the cookies, pies, meats, and other goodies that dominated the last month. It also feels like a nice way to start off the new year!
I'm eating the below menu this work week. I started with dinner on Sunday and I will continue until the food runs out. It's looking like that will be Friday lunch. This might seem boring, but I prefer to do the creative work of planning my meals prior to the week ahead and just stick to it.
Breakfast
Lunch
Snack
Macintosh apples
Dinner
Dessert
Chocolate bar of choice
This is a decadent take on a raw meal. The sweet creaminess of the sesame dressing makes this fresh meal feel like a treat.
Sweet Cauliflower "Fried Rice"
1 c. cauliflower rice (chopped cauliflower run through a food processor)
1 broccoli crown chopped
1/2 c. shredded carrots
1/4 c. cashews
Sesame Dressing
1 T. brown sugar
2 T. steaming water
1 T. unsalted raw peanut butter
1 T. liquid aminos (or soy sauce equivalent)
1 T. sesame oil
(optionally, add 1 T. sesame seeds)
To make the dressing put the brown sugar and peanut butter in a bowl and stir or whisk in the hot water until the ingredients have dissolved. Add amino acids and sesame oil and mix all ingredients together well.
Place the vegetables and nuts in a large bowl. Pour the dressing on top of the produce and mix well. Allow to sit for 3-5 minutes before serving.
This salad is a knockoff from something I ordered at the Fresh Press in downtown Portsmouth last week. It ticked all the boxes for me. The vegan caesar dressing is divinely creamy. Shredded carrots add a nice sweetness, while the tempeh and hummus making this nicely filling. I make this in a to-go container the night before to bring to work the next day.
Fresh Press Knockoff Salad
3 c. mesclun salad mix with red cabbage
2 T. fresh parsley
1/3 c. shredded carrots
1/3 c. pea shoots
1/4 c. roasted pumpkin seeds
1/3 c.
creamy vegan Caesar dressing
4 oz. sautéed tempeh
1/3 c. hummus
Slice tempeh into 1/4 inch slices and sautée in olive oil until golden brown. Put salad, parsley, carrots, pea shoots, pumpkin seeds, and and dressing in togo container and shake vigorously to dress vegetables evenly. Add a healthy dollop of hummus to the center of the salad and place three pieces of tempeh on top.
This is really so good. Caesar dressing is one of my favorites, but I'm sensitive to the strong sardine taste in some recipes. No fish-flavored sorrows here. I'm already looking forward to making more.
Creamy Vegan Caesar Dressing
1/2 c. unsalted raw cashews soaked overnight and drained
1 lemon
1 T. capers
3 cloves garlic
1 T. dijon mustard
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
Juice and zest lemon and set aside. Grate garlic with a microplane. Add all ingredients to food processor and mix. The dressing should be creamy, continue to add water until it is the right consistency. Use immediately or set aside. If saving for later, this dressing will continue to thicken. If it is too thick to use later, just incorporate a little hot water to the dressing to bring it back to life.
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| Too thick! |
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| After adding some hot water, its just right! |
This raw breakfast smoothie is a light and delicious treat to start your day. Not only is it scrumptious, but it is positively packed with healthy benefits. Acai is a
super berry. It is low in sugar, high in antioxidants, and contains iron, fiber, good fatty acids, and nutrients to defend against free radicals. Wild blueberries are also
nutrient-rich fruit! They have vitamin K, C, and manganese as well as being powerful antioxidants. Spinach is another antioxidant, and can even help
improve your brain function. Bananas contain
heart-healthy potassium and vitamin B6.
Super Berry Breakfast Smoothie
1/2 c. spinach
1 package unsweetened frozen acai berry
1/3 c. frozen wild blueberries
1 banana
1 c. filtered water
Caution: acai and blueberry will stain!
Break up frozen acai in package. Then run under warm water and cut the end off with scissors. Squeeze acai chunks into blender. Add the other ingredients and blend. This drink can be made in the evening and stored overnight to enjoy in the morning.
