Decadence

I have added another recipe to my repertoire of raw and healthy deserts. I made this one last night and it was sooo good, so rich and so gooey. YUM!

Chocolate Torte

Soak two cups of almonds overnight and sprout for one day.
This yields approximately 2 2/3 cups "sprouted" almonds.

Place the sprouted/soaked almonds in a food processor.
A blender will not work!
Add 1/2 to 3/4 cups cocoa powder OR carob powder.

Add 1/2 cup sweetener
Pure maple syrup OR raw honey OR rice syrup OR barley syrup OR dates (I used rice syrup)

The amount of sweetness will be a somewhat personal choice. The 1/2 cup suggested is probably the minimum amount one would want to add; but experiment!

Add 2/3 cups of nut butter. (I used almond butter)

Add 2 Tablespoons wheat germ (optional).

Add 1 teaspoon extract.
Vanilla OR almond.

Pulse/Blend all of these ingredients until fairly smooth. If you like a few chunks, that's fine. If you want it smoother, pulse/blend more.

Use a 4 inch diameter Spring-Form pan. Carefully put the batter in the form. Freeze for at least 4 hours.

Gently remove when frozen.

Decorate it any way you wish! Fruit looks nice on the top. Fine coconut flakes are beautiful,sprinkled on top, and of course slivered almonds are great!

Slice as you would a cheesecake.

Chocolate Pudding!

Well for anyone who knows me well, you know that I have been really interested in nutrition and more specifically raw food lately. So I have done a lot of reading and studying as well as trying out various raw recipes. Well the other night I made an amazing raw chocolate pudding that I just couldn't not share. It is healthy! Ok so it's not going to replace broccoli or carrot stick's but it sure is better for you than the "real" pudding.

I got it out of a book called "Raw Food Real World" I recommend reading it!
Here it is:

2 cups coconut meat
3/4 cup coconut water, at room temperature (or more, if needed to thin)
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup agave nectar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

In high speed blender, puree all the ingredients until completely smooth, stopping to scrape the sides if necessary. Transfer to bowls and chill for a firmer pudding, or eat straightaway. Try this with raspberries and fresh mint, or chopped nuts.

Serves 4

I used a young coconut because they are softer and blend easier, also make sure you are using real maple syrup (I don't think Aunt Jemima counts!), and agave nectar is a raw sweetener you can buy at health food stores.

Ok so I tried to make it really pretty and took a picture of it but for some reason it wont upload, so you will just have to take my word for it that it looks really good!