Raw Banana Cream Pie Recipe

The thing about a raw dessert is that you don't bake it and you can taste it as you go. Here's what I used in this one. Please note: I filled it to the top and this is kind of a double recipe because it will last longer and feed more people. I had a lot of company when I made this one.

Spring form pan (mine is 9") lined with parchment paper. You can use plastic wrap but I'm told parchment is healthier. That's how you get the "design" on the sides, from the wrinkles in the paper.

Crust:
1 cup raw sunflower seeds
1 overflowing cup of raw walnuts
1 cup mixed golden and regular raisins
about 8 medjool dates
1/4 cup shredded dried coconut (optional)

Filling:
3 cups raw cashews soaked overnight (can soak for less but will be creamier if longer soak)
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup honey
5 medium bananas (you don't have to measure, depends on the size of your pan!)
1/4 - 1/3 cup maple syrup (you can taste as you go for desired sweetness)
splash of vanilla

Topping:
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
1 teaspoon carob powder
1-2 Tablespoons maple syrup and or honey

To make:
put the crust ingredients in a food processor with the S blade, nuts first, then raisins, then add the pitted dates one at a time while the machine is running. Process until it starts to stick together. Press it into the prepared spring form pan and place in freezer.

In your clean food processor add the ingredients for the filling, starting with the nuts and add the rest as the machine runs. Taste as you go. You might not need so much sweetener since bananas are very sweet o their own. Pour into the pan on top of the crust and put back into the freezer to set up. Let it set in the freezer for around 5 hours.

Before you take it out of the freezer prepare the topping.

With a teaspoon in a small bowl, mix the sweetener and powder. If you're using only cocoa powder, use less because it's more bitter than carob powder. You can always add more if you want to.

Remove from pan and put on serving plate. Drizzle with the topping in random swirls, down the sides of the pie, and even on the plate.

This pie will freeze hard but you'll want to take it out and keep in the fridge before you serve it so it's soft and creamy. In summer it could get pretty melty like an ice-cream cake. It's relish! Enjoy!

Yummiest Smoothie Recipe

This is a refreshing, filling, healthy, raw, smoothie you can make with a blender. 

It takes a little bit of planning if you want it thick and frothy and cold because you need peeled, sliced (or broken up by hand) ripe bananas frozen in advance. I buy bananas in big bunches so that we can eat some and I always have a ready supply frozen in a big zipper baggie. Here's the recipe:

1/8-1/4 cup raw, shelled cashews or sunflower seeds per person (or serving) or a combo of both.
1-2 pitted Medjoul dates per serving
1 teaspoon of carob or cocoa powder per serving (when I make a full blender full, I use two heaping tablespoons)
water
frozen banana pieces

This is the part of the process that will get you the creamiest texture:

In the blender put the sunflower seeds with enough water to generously cover them. Blend on high for a bit. Add the dates and carob powder and blend again until there are not chunks of dates, probably less than a minute depending on the power of your blender. You can really use any kind of date. If you have hard dates, soak them first and use the soak water for the shake because it will be sweet. Adjust the amount of dates you use to make it sweeter if you like. They are so good for you anyway!

Slowly add the banana pieces, about 2 small bananas per serving. Adding the ingredients in this order has given me the smoothest of smoothies. This seems to really amaze people (even the chocolate lovers have loved the carob!).

I am using less cocoa powder since I saw the documentary "The Dark Side of Chocolate."
There is only one brand that I'm absolutely certain of as free trade and that's Holy Cacao which is a very small company (so far). Cocoa powder is very bitter. Carob powder is actually sweet in comparison.

To your health!
Let me know how you like this or if you do something different and love it.

Love,
Aunt Laya