I’m happy to bring you a new episode of my series Chef Zoe’s Raw Food Basics – Magnificent Chocolate Mousse! This is one of my favorite deserts that I like to make for our family when we are craving something sweet but we don’t have too much time to prepare an elaborate dish.
The Chocolate Mousse is based on avocados and it’s blended with raw cacao powder and low-glycemic agave nectar. Decorate it with some fresh apples, bananas or strawberries and you will be in pure bliss. Check out my video to see how easy it is to prepare:
Magnificent Chocolate Mousse
Serves 4-6
Ingredients*:
4 Ripe Avocados
1/3 Cup Raw Cacao Powder
1/4 – 1/3 Cup Agave Nectar
2 T Raw Coconut Oil
1 t Balsamic Vinegar
2 t Vanilla Extract
Pinch of Himalayan Rock Salt
Water as needed
Preparation:
Add everything except the cacao powder in a Vitamix blender and emulsify. Because the mixture is dry you will need to use the temper to push the ingredients toward the blades.
Add the cacao powder and blend until well incorporated. You may want to add some water pending on the consistency you desire. Water helps the mixture move a little better too.
You may use a food processor for this recipe as well. Regular blender may not work because you won’t be able to push the ingredients toward the blade like the Vitamix temper allows.
Decorate with some fresh fruit such as apples, strawberries, bananas, oranges. Enjoy within two days.
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*If you need any of the ingredients I am using in my recipe, please check out my Raw Ingredients Menu. You can place an order by emailing me at zoe@rawbundant.com.
For the past year I’ve had many people contact me and ask for tips, advice and recipes on how to transition to the raw food diet. The interest in learning about living foods have increased exponentially. To help as many people as I can, I decided to start a series of videos titled, Chef Zoe’s Raw Food Basics where I will discuss major nutrition concepts, what foods to include and which to avoid, and share easy and delicious raw recipes you can duplicate in your own home.
My first episode premiers today. In the video below I am sharing how to make Raw Vegan Bulgarian Feta Salad. This is my version of the famous Greek Salad but without the dairy-based Feta cheese. I’m using my very own Fermented Feta Cheeze which is not only dairy-free but 100% raw.
Put all the vegetables into a large bowl except for the Feta Cheeze. Add vinegar, olive oil and salt and mix well with serving tongs. Allow 30 minutes for the juices to blend and the flavor to deepen. However, if you are very hungry, you can serve immediately. Put into a plate and crumble the Feta Cheeze on top. Enjoy!
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To purchase the Fermented Feta Cheeze I am using in my recipe, please visit my blog page Buy Dairy-free Feta Cheeze.
Also, I invite you to join my Facebook group Chef Zoe’s Raw Food Basics. This will be a great place to meet others and discuss topics related to raw foods and holistic health and nutrition.
We did it once again! Mark and I just completed our second annual Master Cleanse. In my video below I’m sharing our results along with what I learned through the experience this time around.
Total Weight Loss
Zoe – 8 lbs.
Mark – 14 lbs.
Full Body Detox
This year we did something differently. Rather than just internal cleaning, I developed a full body detox program for us. I have been extensively researching aromatherapy for a few months. My goal has been to combine therapeutic-grade essential oils into synergistic blends to create holistic skin/body care product, as well as to treat various health symptoms. The Master Cleanse presented a perfect opportunity for me to create a detoxifying blends which would extract toxins and break down fat deposits on the surface of the skin.
Here are the products:
African Black Soap – $8 / 2 oz. glass jar
A powerful yet gentle soap that can be used to wash makeup off, clear pores, sooth irritated skin and prevent aging. Due to its natural high glycerin content, it won’t dry out the skin. Made by Ghana women for centuries using nothing but cocoa pod ashes, plantain skins and palm kernel oil. Suitable for ALL skin types especially for conditions such as acne and eczema. Directions: take a small piece and rub between hands with a little bit water. Massage gently over the skin. Rinse with lukewarm water.
Regenerative Night Oil – $35 / 1 oz. pump bottle
Precious Night Oil is a special blend of some of the most nourishing, healing and moisturizing oils on the planet. We have combined argan, jojoba, sweet almond, camellia, avocado, borage, evening primrose with therapeutic-grade essential oils of Geranium, Rose Otto, Carrot Seed, Ylang Ylang, Frankinsence, Neroli, Calendula and Sea Buckhorn. Applied every night this blend works extra hard to repair tissues, minimize aging, heal irritations and breakouts, and quench thirsty skin. Suitable for ALL skin types. Directions: use one or two pumps to smooth over cleansed face every night prior going to bed. The oil absorbs quickly. No other treatments are needed.
Toxins Eliminator Bath Oil - $15 / 10 ml. bottle
This is a concentrated synergistic blend of therapeutic-grade essential oils such as Oregano, Juniper Berry, Sweet Basil, Grapefruit and Lemon. All of them are proven to draw toxins to the skin surface so they can be safely eliminated from the body. Great to use during the winter season or in conjunction with cleansing programs such as our Master Cleanse or Juice Cleanse. Directions: add one cup Epsom Salt and half a cup Dead Sea Salt to running water in the bathtub. Once the tub is filled, I add 8-10 drops of the Toxins Eliminator Oil. Lay in the water and massaged your body gently to help the oils penetrate better.
Fat Buster Massage Oil - $15 / 2 oz. bottle
This is a concentrated blend of therapeutic-grade essential oils of Carrot Seed, Grapefruit, Lemon, Geranium, Juniper Berry, Cypress and Cedarwood Atlas in a base of Sweet Almond and Jojoba Oils. All these essential oils are known to relieve water retention and break apart fatty deposits on the surface of the skin. Great to use in conjunction with cleansing programs such as our Master Cleanse or Juice Cleanse. Directions: after showering apply to cellulite-prone areas such as the hips, thighs, buttocks, arms or anywhere fat deposits accumulate. Massage with upward strokes to assist better oil penetration.
Jasmine Body Oil - $12 / 2 oz.
This is an all around body oil that moisturizes, nourishes and deodorizes the skin. Blend of jojoba, macadamia and avocado oils with therapeutic-grade essential oils of Jasmine, Ylang Ylang. Neroli and Bergamot. Your skin will become silky smooth and you will feel like you are wearing a fine French perfume without all the added chemicals. Directions: apply liberaly after shower. Allow for the oil to absorb prior to putting clothes on.
Dead Sea Salt - $8 / 1 lb. bag
This mineral-rich salt has been known for centuries for its therapeutic properties. Harvested from the Southern end of the Dead Sea, where the mineral content of the waters is at its highest, the salt contain 21 minerals including magnesium, calcium, sulfur, bromide, iodine, sodium, zinc and potassium. These essential minerals naturally occur in our bodies but must be replenished, as they are lost throughout the day. Soaking in water enriched with dead sea salt treats, detoxifies and cleanses the the body from the inside out. Many skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, seborrhea, rashes and acne can be greatly improved. Also, Dead Sea Salt can assist in breaking down fat deposits on the skin, making it as excellent supplement to our Master Cleanse program. Directions: add to bath and soak for at least 30 minutes. For therapeutic use only.
Did the program work?
I wish you could be here with me so you can touch and feel how much clearer, firmer and toner my skin is. The little bit of fat deposits on my thighs and buttocks are far less noticeable. My facial skin is silky-smooth. My pores appear smaller and tighter. There is a glow that I feel. What a difference those ten days have made.
Considering the fantastic results I received from applying this program, I am inspired to continue developing these products as part of my company RAWbundant. I would love more people to experience what I’m experiencing post Master Cleanse. It’s good to cleanse internally but when you do a whole body cleansing – internal and external – the results are magnified. You feel rejuvenated on every level.
I encourage everyone to do an annual cleanse such as Master Cleanse. We clean our homes, cars, closets, desks all the time but we forget to clean our bodies from the inside. No wonder we see beautiful people who suddenly get diagnosed with cancer, diabetes, heart disease or some other terrible illness. Your internal beauty must be maintained as much as your outward appearance.
TO PURCHASE PACKAGES & INGREDIENTS FOR YOUR CLEANSE, CLICK ON
As the end of a year approaches and a new one is about to begin, I enjoy the time I spend reflecting on what happened in my life during the last 365 days. In some years, few notable changes occur. And in others, your life transforms completely. Year 2010 was one of those major transformational years for me. In the video below I revisit the resolutions I set for 2010 and talk about the year’s highlights.
Going into 2010 I “knew” it was going to be the year of career and health transformation. My intuitive feeling proved to be accurate. By starting my own health journey into raw foods, not only did I lose the extra pounds I gained in my pregnancy but I also became inspired to launch my very first company – RAWbundant.
To accomplish my health resolution, I began the year with the Master Cleanse. Mark and I did it together for 16 days. I lost 14 pounds and felt absolutely amazing. Following the success of the cleanse, our family transitioned to a high raw vegan diet. We completely eliminated meat, fish, dairy and eggs. We minimized our consumption of corn, soy and gluten. On the other hand, we added tons of fruit, veggies, nuts & seeds, and sprouts. We were making green juice each morning and eating close to 80-90% raw. In six months, I lost almost 31 lbs. That was a HUGE personal accomplishment for me. Raw foods forever transformed how I viewed nutrition.
RAWbundant has grown tremendously in just 6 months of launch. Our busiest months were November and December. Best selling products are the Fermented Feta Cheeze, Cheeze Kale Chips and Coconut Macaroons. My goal for 2011 will be to continue growing my company and establishing it as a leading brand in the raw organic world. Many steps will need to be takes such as finishing the website, writing a business plan, getting outside funding and renting a commercial kitchen. I hope that with the right help from others and with the support of my wonderful family, I will get through what is necessary to accomplish those tasks.
Writing more blogs, making more videos and educating my local community through classes and workshops will still be on my priority list for 2011. Education is very important because I feel people are becoming increasingly demanding for knowledge about food, health and holistic treatments to health problems. Not everyone is ignorant and close-minded. I intend on continuing gaining knowledge and sharing it with all of you with the hope that someway, somehow it will make a difference in someone’s life.
And here are some numbers on the influence my online and community education has reached in 2010:
A couple of other highlights to mention are Mark getting a job at ZVRS after being unemployed for a year and our family taking its first family vacation to visit Mark’s parents in Southern California for a week in December. We had the chance to celebrate Denzin’s 2nd birthday with them. Also, Mark and I took a nice trip to LA for a day. It was a wonderful vacation.
Denzin's 2nd Birthday in Carlsbad, CA
Looking back at 2010, I am deeply grateful for all the new turns my life has taken. I can’t imagine it being any other way than it was. Taking all this positive energy, I enter 2011 with a big smile and an upbeat attitude. I wonder where my journey will take me next.
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ~ Harold Whitman
If you ever have been at an Asian market store you have probably seen many exotic fruits that aren’t available at your traditional American supermarket. One of those fruits is Durian. It looks like a large porky pine with sharp pricks that can easily hurt you. Some refer to it as the King of Fruit because of its vanilla custard-like flesh.
Durain is especially popular in the raw food community. Many famous raw food chefs, book authors or educators rave about Durian. Some absolutely think it’s the BEST fruit in the world. I was first introduced to Durian at the NYC Raw Food potluck in September. Hesitant to try it I took a little bite and somewhat liked it. It was pretty frozen and the flavor was not as pronounced.
Well, I figured to buy the whole thing and introduce my family to Durian this Thanksgiving. As I was pulling it open, I started noticing the strange smell coming from it. I tried to not let it bother me until I put a nice piece of custard in my mouth. Boy, was that bad! The smell and taste were just like yellow onion. Worse – rotten onion!!! Yuck! It was as if someone made vanilla custard and added a tablespoon of onion powder to it. Really, it was THAT BAD!
I’ve seen video reviews on Durian from other people and they usually warn that there is some stink but as long as you close your nose and just eat the custard, you should be fine. Let me tell you, even if I had sinus congestion, I wouldn’t have been able to deal with the stick. How do people think of Durian so highly, I have no idea. Even after putting in my Vitamix with some agave nectar and vanilla extract, I was not able to mask that foul smell. So I ended up throwing the whole expensive Durian out. Then I opened the windows so the onion-like fragrance would escape.
Watch my video review with Denzin for more reactions from the scene. Denzin’s face would pretty much tell you what he thought of Durian. Unless I had a “bad” durian, I don’t think we’ll be eating any of this fruit anytime in the future.
My name is Zoe (a.k.a. GreenMomZoe) and I am a raw chef, wellness coach and the founder of RAWbundant, my own line of organic raw vegan products. My company and I are fully dedicated to helping people live their best lives through learning about healthy nutrition and the advantages of a plant-based diet.
On my blog you can find many tips, recipes and advice on health and wellness. In my series Chef Zoe's Raw Food Basics you can learn how to prepare easy, delicious and nutrition dishes at home. Also, I post updates on my company's launch, as well as interesting thoughts, ideas and experiences from my life.
I hope that you'll enjoy browsing and learning from me.
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