Sometimes, when it's cold, rainy and miserable outside, I just want to curl up on the couch, watch a movie and indulge in some comfort eating. Preferably something sweet, creamy and luxurious. But of course it has to be healthy and filling and make me feel good even after I've eaten it. Especially on a day like today, when even donkeys wouldn't want to be outside!
Well, I found the perfect treat!
I recently made a delicious raw peach torte from my new book "Rawmazing Desserts" by my food hero Susan Powers. The taste was heavenly! But unfortunately the cream turned out too runny and it didn't look anything like the one in the book and I won't show you any pictures of it. ;-) But I will tell you what I did with the leftover bowl full of peachy cashew cream....
PEACHY CHIA SEED PUDDING WITH COULIS
Ingredients:
1 cup cashews, soaked overnight
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup agave syrup
1/2 cup chia seeds
4 peaches
For the cream, blend
1 cup soaked & drained cashew nuts
1 cup water
1/2 cup melted coconut oil
1/4 cup Agave syrup (or more if you like it sweeter)
well in a blender, until smooth.
Cut 2 peaches into quarters and slice thinly, then mix into the cream.
Then stir in the chia seeds and pour into 2 bowls. Let it sit in the fridge for at least 30 min or more. Cut one peach into chunks and blend with 1/4 cup Agave syrup. Drizzle over the pudding. Slice the remaining peach thinly and use it to decorate the pudding. If you like, you can also sprinkle something colorful on top, I used soaked goji berries.
Of course, as usually, you can substitute any other fruit for the peaches - oranges are particularly nice. And if you want to leave out the coconut oil altogether, you can use only cashew nuts (just increase the amount of nuts and just use as much water as you need to achieve a creamy, thick but still runny consistency).
The leftover coulis makes a great cordial, with sparkling water and ice. Or mix with orange juice and freeze to make ice lollies for a sunnier day.
CHIA SEED NUTRITION
I love chia seeds for the fact that you can digest them whole and that they gel up into a yummy pudding. But they also have great nutritional benefits! Grown mainly in Mexico, where they are eaten since ancient times, they are meant to give physical strength (their name even means strength). The little seeds contain a lot of omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, protein and anti-oxidants. In fact, they are so dense in nutrients that they are classified as a super food. Soaked in liquid, they turn into a gel that looks a little like frogspawn, but prettier and more appetizing ;-) Because they keep swelling in your stomach, they are really satisfying and make you feel quite full!
Chia's are a member of the mint family and you can quite easily sprout them - in fact, this is what they used to be known for in the 80's:
In case you're feeling crafty now, I found this link online http://www.ehow.com/how_2049510_make-unique-chia-pet.html, it shows you how to make your own. ;-)
CASHEWS
Nutritional scientists have come to the conclusion that the ideal and most health benefitting ratio of saturated, monosaturated and polysaturated fats is 1:2:1. And cashews have exactly that. And even though they are creamy in texture, they actually contain less fat than peanuts, walnuts or almonds!
Cashews are studied a lot these days for their content of a certain flavanoid, called proanthocyanidin, which has the ability to starve tumors and stop cancer cells from dividing. Cashews are full of minerals and nutrients like magnesium, copper, phytonutrients and antioxidants that are good for the heart and can protect us from heart disease. They can also prevent gallstones and migraines and make your skin glow! Cashews are grown in South East Asia, Africa and South America, and are actually the seed of the cashew apple, and is attached on the outside of the fruit.
(Picture from The Perfect Pantry)
Cashews are probably the most versatile of seeds in the raw food kitchen, as are the perfect dairy substitute and you can make them into milk, cream, whipped cream, cream cheese, mayo, ice cream, cheesecake, icing etc... So don't worry, you will see a lot of them here on my blog! ;-)
PEACHES
Peaches, Apricots and Cherries used to be my favorite fruit when I was a child. Growing up in sunny Bavaria, they were abundant each summer and dripping with sweet sticky juice. Unfortunately this remains a fond memory, since I moved to Ireland in 1999. What Tesco sells as "super sweet" is unfortunatley nowhere near the taste explosion I remember. But they are still good to use in raw cakes, pies, smoothies and ice cream, sweetened with a little agave or honey and make a nice change during the summer months. If however you come across some fresh organic peaches at a farmers market, shop till you drop! I have found that they usually taste a lot better!
With peaches, you'll get a good amount of Vitamin A, C and K, potassium, iron and anti-oxidants.
So there you go,
I hope you enjoy this healthy treat - it makes a great breakfast too, a bit like a very creamy porridge ;-)
See you soon!
Sandra























