Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup medjool dates, soaked
• 1/2 cup agave nectar or maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract, optional
• 1 1/2 cups mashed avocado (3 avocados)
• 3/4 cup organic cocoa or carob powder
• 1/2 cup water

Place dates, agave nectar, and vanilla extract in a food processor and process until smooth.  Add the mashed avocado and cocoa powder and process until creamy.  You may need to stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula a few times.  Add the water and process until smooth.  Serve at room temperature or chilled.  Stored in a sealed container in the fridge the Chocolate Mousse will keep up to 3 days and 2 weeks in the freezer.

Fudgesicles: Freeze the chocolate mousse in ice cube trays. Thaw for 5 minutes before serving.

Chocolate Sauce or Fondue: increase water to 1 cup

See relevant blog post here.

Makes 4 Servings

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water, plus additional water to thin
• 2 medium zucchini, peeled and chopped (about 2 cups) (can sub yellow squash or cucumber)
  
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 tbs lemon juice
• 2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tsps mellow white miso
• 2 small cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 tsp mineral salt, or to taste
• dash cayenne
• 1 avocado, mashed
• 2 tbs minced fresh dill (or 2 tsps dried) * can sub parsley or basil as well

Place the water, zucchini, celery, lemon juice, olive oil, miso, garlic, salt, and cayenne in blender or VitaMix and blend until smooth.  Add the avocado and dill and blend briefly.  Add additional water to thin the soup to desired consistency and blend.  Serve chilled or at room temperature. Stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator, Cream of Zucchini soup will keep for up to three days.

Serve chilled or warmed slightly

Notes:

• buy avocado with bud in place. once they give a little on each end, place in fridge for up to two weeks
• if you over blend the avocado the soup with get super thick
• put vitamix on medium speed and pulse dill a few times to keep texture
• when you use dried herbs use 1/2 of the specified amount

See relevant blog post here.

Makes 6 servings

Marinara Ingredients:

• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, soaked 2-4 hours, drained and chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 tsp mineral salt, or to taste
• dash cayenne
• dash fresh ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp minced fresh basil or 2 tsps dried
• 1 tbs minced fresh oregano or 1 tsp dried

Noodle Ingredients:

• 6 medium zucchini, peeled and cut into thirds

Place all ingredients for Marinara Sauce in food processor fitted with the S blade and process until smooth.  Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator, Marinara Sauce will keep for three days.  Transform the zucchini into noodles using a vegetable peeler or spiral slicer.  Toss the zucchini noodles with enough marinara to coat well and serve immediately.  Serve with extra marinara sauce on the side.

See relevant blog post here.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 2 medium zucchini, chopped
• 2 red or yellow bell pepper
• 4 cups cilantro leaves (about 2 large bunches, stems removed)
• 1 apple, chopped
• 1 avocado, chopped
• 2 tbsp organic wheat free tamari
• 2 tsp celtic sea salt
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/4-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Blend all ingredients, except cilantro and avocado in blender or Vita-Mix on high speed until smooth.  Add cilantro, blend, then add avocado and blend until smooth.  Taste and adjust seasonings as desired (cayenne and salt).  Garnish with diced red bell pepper, seasoned seeds, sprouts and avocado.

Raw soups may be warmed, stirring constantly, with low heat up to 110 degrees.

Store creamy cilantro soup in an airtight container in fridge for up to three days. Mix well before serving.

When in season, sweet fresh corn cut off the cob compliments the spice in this zesty soup!

See relevant blog post here.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup mung bean sprouts
3 tbs nama shoyu or soy sauce
5 dried apricots
1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes
1/4 c thinly sliced green onion
2 tbs organic raw apple cider vinegar
1 tbs peeled and minced fresh ginger
1/2 c diced cucumber or zucchini
1 jalapeno chile, seeded and minced (2 tbs)
2 tbs lime juice
2 tbs chopped cilantro
1 tbs raw agave nectar
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste

Directions:
1. Stir together sprouts and nama shoyu, and let marinate while you prepare soup.
2. Soak apricots in bowl  of boiling water for 5 minutes, drain.
3. Place apricots, tomatoes, green onion, vinegar, ginger, and 3 cups water in blender or food processor; blend until smooth.  Transfer to serving bowl, and stir in cucumber, jalapeno, lime juice, cilantro, agave nectar, cayenne pepper, and sprout mixture.

Nutrition Info per 1 cup serving: 59 cal, 2 g protein, less than 1 g total fat, 14 g carb, 0 mg chol, 682 mg sod, 2 g fiber, 10 g sugars

I got this recipe from my subscription to Vegetarian Times, March 2010 issue.

I also used my vita-mix with this recipe and it made things super simple!

You can see relevant blog post here.

Recipe by Felix Schoener from my Vegetarian Times magazine, March 2010.

Ingredients:
Vegetable Medley
2 c chopped napa cabbage
1 c thinly sliced red bell pepper
3/4 c raw unsalted cashews, optional
1/2 c chopped red cabbage
1/2 c thinly sliced carrots
1/2 c thinly sliced snow peas
1/4 c thinly sliced green onion
2 tbs chopped cilantro

Spicy Vegetable Dressing
1/2 c sesame oil
1 fresh stalk lemongrass, outer leaves removed, finely chopped, optional
3 tbs raw agave nectar or maple syrup
3 tbs nama shoyu or soy sauce
3 tbs umeboshi plum vinegar or raw apple cider vinegar
1 1/2-inch piece peeled fresh ginger
1 tbs dehydrated onion flakes
1 tbs tamarind paste, optional
1 tbs grated lime zest
1 clove garlic, peeled
1 tsp minced thai or jalapeno chile
1 small kaffir lime leaf

Cauliflower "rice"
4 c cauliflower florets
1/2 c macadamia or pine nuts
1 tbs dehydrated onion flakes
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Directions:
1. To make Vegetable Medley: combine all ingredients in large bowl.
2. To make Spicy Vegetable Dressing: place all ingredients in blender or food processor, and blend until creamy.  Add to Vegetable Medley, and toss well.
3. To make Cauliflower "rice": place all ingredients in food processor, and pulse-chop to rice-like consistency. Serve topped with Vegetable Medley.

Nutrition:
per 1 1/3 c serving: 324 cal, 4 g protein, 27 g total fat, 21 g carb, 0 mg chol, 619 mg sod, 5 g fiber, 13 g sugars.

I used my Vita-Mix and it helped TREMENDOUSLY in this recipe. Have fun!

You can see relevant blog post here.

Serves 4 l Vegan l 30 minutes or fewer l Gluten Free

Recipe by Jennifer Murray from my March 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times.

Ingredients:
3 Hass avocados (2 c mashed)
1/4 cup plus 3 tbs raw agave nectar
1/4 cup plus 2 tbs raw cocoa powder
3 tbs raw almond butter
1 tsp lemon juice
pinch ground cinnamon
pinch ground nutmeg or cardamom
1/2 tsp flavored extract such as mint, cherry, orange, almond, hazelnut, or coffee, optional

Directions:
Puree all ingredients in food processor 3-4 minutes or until smooth and creamy, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. Transfer to bowls and serve immediately.

Vita-mix another huge success with this recipe!

Per 1/2 cup serving: 370 cal, 5 g protein, 24 g total fat, 44 g carb, 0mg chol, 11 mg sod, 10 g fiber, 29 g sugars

You can see relevant blog post here.

If you ever need to trick your kids, or even yourself, to eat spinach... this is the way to do it!

From my Vita-Mix recipe book.

1 cup water
1 cup soy milk
2 cups fresh spinach, washed
1 cup frozen, unsweetened strawberries
2 bananas, peeled, frozen

1. Place all ingredients into the Vita-Mix container in the order listed and secure the lid.
2. Select variable 1
3. Turn machine on and quickly increase the speed to Variable 10, then to High.
4. Blend for 1 minute or until desired consistency is reached.

See relevant blog post here.

This is from the Vita-Mix recipe book.

2 oranges, peeled and halved
2 tablespoons sugar or other sweetner, to taste
4 cups ice cubes

1. Place all ingredients into the Vita-Mix container in the order listed and secure lid
2. Select Variable 1.
3. Turn machine on and quickly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High
4. Use tamper to press ingredients into the blades
5. In about 30-60 seconds, the sound of the motor will change and four mounds should form
6. Stop machine. Do not over mix or melting will occur. Serve immediately.

See relevant blog post here.