The Right Raw Chocolate

Those of you who read my blog regularly know that I am a “chocoholic” like many others. I am always sourcing and looking for the latest and tastiest ways to create chocolate recipes at home and every once in a while I come across a great product that inspires me (and makes a great addition to my purse or travel bag!)

I discovered righteously raw about a year ago, when  friend of mine told me I had to try this raw chocolate bar that wasn’t like anything else. Not only are the ingredients incredibly pure, but each variety is loaded with a layer of superfoods – which makes the bar extra chewy and extra delicious.

It’s not easy to find a raw chocolate that tastes as good as this one. Plus it is nut free and has the added benefit of all my favourite superfoods from goji berries, acai, lacuma, maca and cacao. This would make anyone very happy and of course very healthy!

You can find them at various different health food stores in Toronto, so if you can, get your hands on a bar and test it out. Or WIN one for free (see below). It’s also the perfect time of year to get one to put into a stocking for a loved one or give it as a gift. Your making the RIGHT decision by supporting this pure, organic, vegan, raw, gluten/nut free and kosher chocolate!

Check out their website to find out more on why they created this incredible chocolate bar. And yes, I can call this a chocolate bar – because it is that and so much more!

TELL me why you are eager to try this chocolate – I will send one to you! The contest ends at the end of this week!

There is only ONE winner, so I am looking for a good answer!

Post it on Twitter

Post it on my Facebook Page

Leave a comment below – either way!

The Top 3! … well more like 5

So the day has come and it is time to finalize the top posts of people’s FAVOURITE VEGETARIAN MEALS and find out who is going to come to one of my Cooking Classes for FREE!  This contest was not only based on what the meal was, but why this meal was so special and what about this meal made you feel amazing!

I really had a tough time trying to pick…as they all sounded delicious (that is why I have picked 5 instead of 3).

There was a bit of an Indian/Ethiopian theme going on – it seemed that warming beany and grainy meals with veggies seem to hit home for a lot of my readers! There are also quite a few new recipes in these posts, so have a look through and get inspired to make something delicious.

Thank goodness I am leaving the tough part to you.

Each post is listed with a code name – that highlights each specific post.

Then YOU will leave a comment with the code name of your favourite one and why you liked it. (If your post is one listed, you can NOT comment at all! You will just have to wait with anticipation!)

I will tally all of the votes to see which one got the most…and the winner will be announced and contacted in the next couple of days!

Post # 1 : Chickpea Curry

My favourite veggie meal is Indian and it is channa masala (chickpea curry) over basmati pulao (basmati with spices/onions). It is so yummy and filling! The house smells fantastic when you are cooking these items. When you sit down to a plate of beautifully cooked basmati pulao and pour the channa masala on top of it, it is irresistible to me. I’m drooling just thinking about it! I was born in Canada but my family background is East Indian, so this dish brings me back to my heritage and the food I grew up with at home. The great thing is, this is simple to cook but it is so hearty that my non-vegetarian friends love it too. Now that I have thought about it so much, it will have to be dinner tonight!

Post # 2: Pineapple Pear

My favourite veggie meal is my morning Power-Packed Pineapple Pear Smoothie. This power house meal is packed to give me the boost I need to start my day on the right foot. I don’t do well with solid foods in the morning so this drink has the added ingredients to help digest it and support my body at the same time. I start with about a third of a cored organic pineapple. The aroma of the pineapple as I cut it into chunks makes my mouth water and my tummy grumble in anticipation (gets those digestive juices flowing), and it’s beautiful bright yellow colour is a nice ‘eye-opener’ for the morning, along with it’s high vitamin C and digestive and health supporting enzymes. I like using 2 Forella pears that have the yellow-red skin as they are firmer and still have a smooth texture and adds valuable soluble and insoluble (including the skin) fiber. To boost the fiber, protein and iron content I add 30grams of organic ground tigernuts (Egyptian tubers) which also give a nutty flavour. Then I add about 5 stalks of dandelion greens to support my liver and get my greens into my day first thing. Surprisingly and scrumptiously, the slight bitterness of the dandelion is complimented very well by the pineapple’s sweetness and acidity and adds a nice green colour to the drink (bitter tastes also help stimulate digestive juices). Then to add a bit more protein and probiotics which help digestion further along the tract, I add some coconut kefir about a quarter to a half of a cup. This adds some tartness to balance the sweetness and beautiful light coconut flavour to the pineapple. I power pack it off with 30grams of lecithin granules and 1 tsp of spirulina. The lecithin really adds to the smoothness of the smoothie and is great for the nervous system (stress) and lowering cholesterol. The spirulina intensifies the green colour of the smoothie, helps cleanse and build the blood and supports the body in so many ways.

Add about 4 cubes of ice to the blending near the end to chill it up and thin it out a bit, and then let it sit for a few minutes before consuming to allow the flavours to meld. This makes 2 generous helpings. This first meal of the day gives me a sense of great care and love being given to my body. Once you try it you’ll be hooked!

Post #3: Pesto Pasta

My favourite vegetarian meal is spinach pesto on whole wheat spaghettini. Why?

First of all – IT TASTES SO DARN GOOD. I love the punch of the pine nuts and garlic, it’s absolutely delicious.

Why else? Well, I’m by no means a raw foodist, but I know the importance of including raw foods in my diet. This meal is perfect for me because I still get to enjoy my warm, cooked pasta (providing me with healthy, whole grains), but the pesto itself is made from fresh, raw, iron-rich spinach and the antioxidants of the garlic (which this recipe includes LOTS of!).

Post # 4: Injera

My absolute favourite meal is actually one I had tonight: Ethiopian food!!

First of all, eating Ethiopian food is a communal experience. The food comes served on a large platter for sharing, which has a base of a sourdough flatbread called injera. Injera is made from teff flour, not only high in iron and fibre, but really delicious!

Each dish is served in a small dollop: spiced chickpeas, lentils or split peas, collard greens (mmm), potatoes with cabbage and carrots, and salad. You eat the entire meal with your fingers, enveloping each morsel of spiced legumes and veg with the injera. The smells of berbere (the spice mix they use to cook everything — how can you go wrong with chilis, onions and garlic?), frankincense, and strong coffee are all around and deeply satisfying.

Food always tastes better when you can eat with your hands.

Post #5: Dhal Stew

My favorite meal is a dhal stew that I have altered from an original family recipe. It was always a staple in my home growing up. Once I moved out on my own it was the first recipe I made from scratch. I felt so proud and comforted when I first made it on my own (especially when for the first little while I was eating a lot of processed foods).It also started me on the path of ‘loving to cook’! It consists of yellow dhal, tumeric, cumin seeds, garam masala, curry powder, onions, garlic, tomatoes, salt and hot pepper sauce…very simple but oh so good!! You can make it a soup consistency or what I do is add potatoes or plaintains or sweet potatoes and green peas and make it into a stew.