Are You Nuts?

Friday, June 11, 2010

I’m not nuts, I’m just crazy for nut pates. Savory or sweet–it doesn’t matter; the flavor just can’t be beat.

What I love most is the simple ingredients and how fast you can make either of these delicious dishes. Because none of the ingredients in these recipes are cooked, they are considered “raw” (which simply means never cooked over 118 degrees), keeping the live enzymes in the food intact.

Raw foodists believe that when you protect the live enzymes in food (by not heating it), it offers you an array of health benefits, including weight loss, clear skin, vibrancy and overall good feeling.

So, get your food processor or blender out and whip up something fresh, delicious and refreshing for lunch, your body will thank you for it.

A tasty way to enjoy your pate

Raw Nut Pate (savory)

Soak ½ to 1 cup of either raw walnuts or almonds in a glass container for at least 4 hours. Add the drained nuts to a food processor. Add 1 (or more to taste and consistency) tomato and onion to food processor and blend mixture until fluffy.

Add a few tsp. water if mixture appears dry. Add sea salt to taste. Always scrape the sides of the processor bowl to ensure complete mixing.

Serve with raw or grain crackers or on a lettuce leaf wrapped with shredded carrots, peppers, etc.

Raw Nut Spread (sweet)

Soak ½ to 1 cup of raw cashews in a glass container for at least 4 hours. Add the drained nuts to a food processor. Squirt 1-2 tsp.(or more to taste) of raw agave nectar to the processor bowl. Add ½-1 Tb. veggie oil to processor bowl. Sprinkle 1-2 shakes of cinnamon to processor bowls.

Blend mixture until fluffy. Always scrape the sides of the processor bowl to ensure complete mixing.

Serve with sliced apples or sweet flax crackers.