3 frozen banana
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons coconut milk or almond milk (I used the canned Light Coconut Milk from Trader Joe’s)
1 teaspoon maple syrup (optional)
Blend together and freeze for at least 2 hours.
Chocolate Sorbet:
Add a teaspoon of cocoa powder and an additional teaspoon of sweetener.
Very simple and fresh. Great side for a potluck.
1. Prepare the brown rice .
2. Toss lightly with olive oil and rice vinegar – to taste.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients and toss.
4. Salt and pepper to taste.
One of my staple recipes. It’s quick, easy, and delicious!
1 can garbanzos (drain and save the juice)
1-3 cloves garlic (roasted is best)
2-3 heaping tablespoons of tahini (I like a lot)
juice of one lemon
salt to taste
Add 1/4 cup black beans to make black bean hummus
Blend in the food processor. Add garbazo liquid as needed. Eat with carrots, crackers, or pita.
This recipe comes from my aunt’s husband, Tim, who made it for us a few times at family parties.It is the most decadent and mouth-watering garlic bread I have ever eaten. My aunt and her husband now own their own Deli called Del Rey Deli so you know they are experts when it comes to food. Make extra because it will go fast!
2 tbs olive oil
french bread
1 onion chopped
4-5 cloves of garlic chopped
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
3 tbs mayo
1 good sized block of fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
pepper
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Heat oil in skillet and add onions. Sautee the onions until soft and translucent then add garlic and continue to cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add desired amount of pepper. Remove from heat and dump mixture into a bowl. Add parmesan cheese and mayo and mix well. Spread mixture onto halved loaves of bread, top with sliced mozzarella and place in oven for 10-12 minutes.
This is a very simple recipe that my mom found in Raw Food Made Easy by Jennifer Cornbleet. The only thing you need to remember is to soak the walnuts overnight in the fridge. It’s a very satisfying appetizer that your vegan/ vegetarian friends will appreciate.
1 cup soaked raw walnuts (We soaked them in a glass bowl overnight)
1 T fresh lemon juice (I didn’t have lemons on hand, so I used rice vinegar to go with the tamari flavor)
1 tsp Tamari
1/4 tsp garlic powder (roasted garlic would be best)
Salt to taste
1 T minced fresh parsley
1 T minced onion (can be left out)
Blend everything in a food processor. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Serve with crackers or use in a sandwich.
Very light and refreshing. Perfect for summer!
This is an altered version of the Minmalist Baker’s recipe:
· 1 Tbsp brown sugar
· 1/2 orange (the original recipe calls for lime)
· 3 blackberries
· 6-7 basil leaves
· 1.7 ounces white rum (we used a spiced local organic rum)
· 1 cup crushed ice
· 1/4 cup soda water
The Best Burgers in LA
In order of preference:
Stout (Santa Monica, Studio City, and Hollywood)
An upscale Gastropub that serves unique burgers and craft beers. I got the Six Weeker Burger that has fig jam, arugula, Brie, and caramelized onions. Make sure to order a side of sweet potatoes fries and dipping sauces. You can tell the basil is fresh in the lemon basil aioli. I paired my burger with a cream ale called summer solstice. The beer was light and creamy. It tasted like vanilla. Great burger. Great beer. Definitely recommend. Atmosphere: It has an industrial but trendy LA-feel. The Santa Monica location turns into a bar at night. It’s open until 4 am. Tip: They will sample any of the beers on the menu so be sure to ask if you are unsure on what to order! (5 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)
Father’s Office (Santa Monica and Culver City)
Small Gastropub with 35+ craft beers on tap. You cannot leave LA without eating the Office Burger— caramelized onions, gruyere, applewood bacon served on a brioche bun. If you like stouts or porters I recommend the Old Rasputin Imperial Stout. Atmosphere: Lively, dark, and small. Tip: Go early to get a table. The Santa Monica location is tiny but the other location is bigger. You must be 21+ to go inside. They also sample their beers. (5 taste, 4 atmosphere, 5 service)
Plan Check (Sawtelle, Fairfax, and Downtown)
High-end burger place known for their ketchup leather. I got the Plan Check Burger and the sweet potato fries. Delicious burger but not as good as Stout or Father’s Office. It’s also $12 for the burger and an additional $6 for fries. Atmosphere: casual, cozy, trendy. Tip: They sing on your birthday and bring a free dessert. (4 taste, 5 atmosphere, 5 service)
Melon Blueberry Rosemary Smoothie
1 cup melon
½ cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
½ banana (frozen)
1 teaspoon rosemary
½ cup almond or soy milk
Napa crunch salad
My dad made up this recipe and swore he would win a contest with it. The Napa Crunch Salad is simple, but I guarantee you will be surprised how the flavors come together. Serve with Caesar Cardini salad dressing or ranch.
It requires five ingredients:
napa cabbage (chopped fine)
red onion (chopped very fine)
cilantro (chopped)
Red Hot Blues (crumbled)
several tomatoes or red bell peppers (coarsely chopped)
Leftovers are excellent in sandwiches.
Nut Rice Burgers
This recipe comes from a family friend who is a raw chef in Maui. You won’t believe how delicious these burgers turn out! Very hearty and satisfying. I don’t like swiss cheese or parsley but I love these burgers.
Recipe makes 34 burgers, which can be wrapped in aluminum and frozen for future meals.
7 1/2 water
4 c organic brown rice
4 c chopped onions, sautéed
2 bay leaves
4 tsp Celtic salt or unrefined sea salt
4 cups finely ground cashews
1 cup pumpkins seeds
1/2 sunflower seeds
parsley
1 3/4 Swiss cheese
Bragg’s (or tamari)
Cornmeal or matzah meal
Bella's Belly 