In the Raw – Really

by Nana

When Tracy and her brother, Trevor, were babes in grade school, a group of us "moms” started a cookie group.  Every Christmas for over twenty years we have met and exchanged homemade cookies and recipes specially wrapped for the holidays. Each year when I get home from the party, the family swarms the cookies to “taste” all of them. This year I decided to share with the cookie group my new passion – raw cooking (not cooking in the raw).  I am still cringing as I think of my friends’ families and husbands “tasting” the raw cookies I brought to the exchange – were they wondering if I finally went off the deep end? For the first time, I am actually afraid that I may not be invited back to the cookie group!  

Why raw?

Tracy and I are trying to develop healthy eating habits for our family.  The kids have a shelf in the fridge that they have “free range” to graze from 24/7.  You guessed it - it is full of fruits and veggies.  We are trying to practice what we preach so we are “attempting” to keep the kitchen free of sugary, empty-calorie foods for the health of us all.  (Okay, usually, this has not been true during the holiday season).

The problem creeps up in the evenings.  After the kids are tucked in bed the “boys” usually retire to the deck to discuss whatever guys talk about when they are free of “women folk” on dark starry nights.  Tracy and I end up in the living room with “chick shows” on the TV, working on our projects, sharing our own conversations.  Often it seems like the only thing needed to round out the evening would be something sweet to eat.  Get the picture?

Enter a favorite website – mynewroots.blogspot.com.  Here I began this journey into a world of creating delicious, nutritious dishes that fed both the body and the soul.  Often when someone mentions “raw food” we think of carrots, lettuce, radishes – rabbit food.  Yes, that is a part of it, but it is the “raw” desserts that won me over.  When I want a sweet treat in the evening I grab a raw peanut butter cookie from the refrigerator.  It more than satisfies my sweet craving, I feel full, and the calories are not empty. What have I eaten? Mixed nuts, peanuts, coconut oil, honey, and vanilla.  That’s it – no refined flour, sugar, or other ingredients one is used to seeing in baked goods.  These raw ingredients are dropped in a food processor, shaped into cookies, and are ready to eat – no need to bake!  Yumm!

Part of living at the compound is having a constant stream of folks from all ages and stages coming and going – sharing ideas, recipes, and habits, good and bad – so we learn from everyone; we try to embrace the good ideas and grow from the others.  Currently – “going raw” seems like one of the good ideas!

Here is a great peanutbutter cookie recipe:

I just used the nuts that I had. It doesn't matter which type, just 2 cups in all.

1/2 c. pecans

1 c. cashews

1/2 c. almonds

1 c. dates

3/4 c. peanut butter (with no sugar; ingredients should be peanuts and salt)

1/4 c. honey

1 tsp. vanilla

Blend all in food processor, then mold/place into single servings. No baking, just refrigerate or freeze.