Acai power berry smoothie, new raw food workshops and raw cake!

I have been enjoying the benefits of the beautiful acai berry recently. Many of the superfoods used by raw fooders are native to South America, and this wonderful fruit is no exception. It is rich in anthocyanins and flavenoids, both of which are powerful anti-oxidants, helpful in preventing diseases such as heart disease and cancer. These substances also help neutralise free radicals and so have an anti-ageing effect! My favourite way to use the acai powder is in this delicious smoothie:

Acai power berry smoothie:
1.5 cups frozen mixed berries
3 tbsp. goji berries
1 tbsp. acai powder
2 frozen bananas
2 tbsp. shelled hemp seeds
1 tbsp. maca
3 cups pure water

Blitz in the blender until smooth.

I am proud to admit that my raw food enthusiasm is starting to infuse out into my circle of family and friends. It was my brother in law's birthday last week and he requested a raw birthday cake! Of course I could not refuse, I love making raw cakes, and I love giving presents so I couldn't wait to get started! I decided to do a chocolate cake as I knew that's what Dan would like best. So I made a layer of squidgy chocolate cake made from brazil nuts, pecans, walnuts, cacao powder, cacao butter, dates and chocolate covered mulberries. Then I made a sticky toffee layer from dates, almond butter and cacao butter. The final layer was a chocolate icing crafted from cacao butter, coconut butter, cacao powder, agave, almond butter, hemp seeds and lucuma. I then made raw chocolates with fillings inside to go on the top of the cake as I wanted it to look extra special. I filled some with almond butter and some with coconut. I will show you a pic of the finished product but I am keeping the recipe a secret for now as I plan to put it in a new book I am working on, so watch this space for more details about that!

Announcing my new Raw Food for Beginners Workshop! You are invited to join us for a fun and informative half day workshop, learning all about raw living foods. Take part in making and eating a selection of dishes including a nourishing raw green smoothie, yummy raw lunch, mouthwatering raw dessert and luxurious raw chocolate truffles to take home. You will also learn about the basics of raw food, equipment, how to set up a raw prep area in your kitchen, food shopping and sourcing, time saving tips, my top 5 most harmful foods and my top 5 most beneficial foods. You will also receive all information printed out in beautiful handouts, recipe sheets, access to a private Facebook group, and a special bonus free gift from me.

The next workshop is taking place in Rusper, West Sussex on 15th September 11am - 3pm.
Places are strictly limited and are going fast so book your seat today! Only £60 including all teachings, smoothie, lunch, dessert, truffles, materials, hand outs and recipes, private Facebook group and special bonus free gift. Book with a friend and receive £5 discount each, two places for only £110!

Book online at: http://www.rawlifestylecoach.co.uk/#!workshops/c1krl

Wishing you raw health and happiness,

Natalie. x
rawlifestylecoach.co.uk

Happy International Raw Food Day!

Hi everyone,

This is my first post this month, I have been very busy over the last few weeks here at Raw Lifestyle Coach HQ, developing new recipes, hosting a very successful June retreat and working on a new top secret VIP programme I think a lot of you will love! Stay tuned for updates and sneak previews about that.

Other things I have been up to recently, I went to see the amazing Michael Buble in concert at the O2. It's the second time I have seen him now and it was a fantastic show. If you haven't seen him before, I highly recommend his shows, his charm, sense of humour and stage craft make for a truly unforgettable experience. Oh, and there's glitter and confetti!

My family and I have been loving the long awaited sunshine. A lot of people find it so much easier to eat raw when its warm outside. We have been enjoying refreshing salads, pates, juices and smoothies. I give Max half an hour outside in the morning (before 10am) with no sun block on so that his body can make some vitamin D from the sun. Vitamin D stores well in the body, and because we're in the UK where this sort of weather is rare to say the least, I recommend taking advantage and getting out there, exposing as much skin as possible and getting your vitamin D levels up for when the weather goes back to normal again! It is always advisable to stay out of the sun or cover up and wear a natural sunscreen between the hours of 11 - 3pm. We also supplement with a sublingual vitamin D spray.

Here's Max outside getting his vitamin D and enjoying his green smoothie!

As it's International Raw Food Day today, I have a couple of delicious new recipes for you. I'd also like to tell you about the official website for IRFD, http://internationalrawfoodday.com 

Go there and sign up today and they will send you all sorts of free goodies, raw food ebooks, free talks and magazines etc, it's a great thing to be part of. 

We have been enjoying the beautiful organic British strawberries in this delicious smoothie. It also has goji berries in it. Gojis are a true superfood, high in antioxidants, essential fats, and all amino acids, making them a complete protein. This smoothie is protein packed, fruity, creamy and satisfying, keeping you full until lunchtime!

Strawberry goji smoothie recipe:

10 strawberries

1/4 cup goji berries

2 tbsp. Sunwarrior protein powder

1 tbsp. maca

1 tbsp. white almond butter

2 frozen bananas (or 2 bananas and 4 ice cubes)

2 cups pure water

Blend until smooth, starting with 1 cup of water and adding more to achieve desired consistency. Serves two.

How about a delicious sweet treat to celebrate IRFD in style? You could try making my raw banoffee pie recipe! This always comes out perfectly and is a real winner with guests and kids!

Banoffe pie recipe:
Base:
1 cup walnuts
1 cup almonds
1/2 cup flax meal
1/2 cup coconut oil (melted)
1/4 cup peruvian carob
2 tbsp. agave
Pinch Himalayan salt

Toffee:
2 very ripe bananas
2 cups soaked dates
2 tbsp. almond butter
2 tbsp. olive oil
Pinch Himalayan salt
Pure water to blend

Cream:
1 1/4 cups raw cashew nuts, soaked 1 hour
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Seeds from 1 vanilla pod
3/4 cup pure water

Filling:
2 very ripe bananas

Garnish:
Raw chocolate bar

To make base, grind nuts in a food processor until fine crumbs. Don't over process though or you'll start making nut butter! Add the rest of the base ingredients and pulse to combine. Press into a 9 inch loose bottom cake tin lined with non PVC cling film, or a silicone cake mould. Chill in freezer to set.

Put all toffee ingredients in a blender, adding a few tablespoons of water and blend until smooth, adding more water if needed to achieve a thick, smooth toffee cream. Spread this over the base. Slice bananas and arrange neatly over the toffee layer, then put cake back in freezer.

Put the cream ingredients in the blender (after rinsing clean), starting with half the water, and blend, adding more water to achieve a thick whipped cream consistency. Spread the whipped cashew vanilla cream over the banana layer. Grate some of the raw chocolate bar over the top to decorate and pop into the fridge until ready to serve, or go ahead and cut yourself a nice big slice and enjoy right away! Happy International Raw Food Day!

Wishing you raw health and happiness,

Natalie. x

rawlifestylecoach.co.uk