Raw Vegan Blueberry Coconut Cheesecake

Many have asked if we could post the recipe for Raw Vegan Blueberry Coconut Cheesecake which Abby prepared at her last Intro to Raw Foods class in our stores. Of course, we are much obliged! I mean, come on, look at this:

So here it is, let us know how yours turned out!

Raw Vegan Blueberry Coconut Cheesecake by Abby Cahn Anton of Super Simple Super Foods ©2013
Serves 16 – 24.

Crust:
1 cup brazil nuts
2 cups walnuts (preferably soaked and dehydrated)
1/4 cup raisins
3 medjool dates
1/8 cup ground golden flax seed
1/8 cup coconut flour
1/4 tsp Sunfire salt
coconut oil

Filling:
4 cups blueberries (can substitute other fruit such as strawberries or cherries)
2 cups coconut cream
1/4 tsp. Sunfire salt
1/4 tsp. cardamom
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract (or 2 tbs. Sunfire Superfoods vanilla agave nectar)

Advance Preparation:
If using frozen blueberries, thaw in advance. Melt coconut cream by putting in dehydrator or placing jar in warm water.

In a food processor with the “s” blade, process brazil nuts until medium fine. Add flax, coconut flour and salt and pulse until mixed. Cut dates into small chunks and add along with raisins and pulse until broken up and evenly distributed. Add walnuts. Pulse and then process until it begins to form a ball. Be careful not to process too long or it will be more like nut butter, it should be a little grainy and sticky. Grease the bottom of an 8″ springform pan with coconut oil. Press crust onto bottom of pan. Place in freezer while making filling.

Blend blueberries, salt, cardamom and vanilla on high until smooth, set aside. Pour melted coconut cream into food processor. Turn food processor on. While processing coconut, slowly pour blueberry mixture from blender into food processor through the feeding tube. When thoroughly blended, remove springform pan from freezer and pour blueberry coconut mixture into cake pan. Chill in refrigerator for several hours until set.

Enjoy!

Read more about the raw foods lifestyle from Abby at supersimplesuperfoods.com

recipes: Raw Granola with Fresh Raw Nut Milk

We had quite a turnout again this week for Abby Cahn-Anton’s Intro to Raw Foods series where this time around, she created her RAW, vegan, gluten-free, low-glycemic version of granola with fresh nut milk. If you missed the class – stop doing that! If you really couldn’t make it, here are the recipes to hold you over.

Raw Granola and Fresh Nut Milks
Recipes courtesy of Abby Cahn Anton of SuperSimpleSuperFoods.com

recipe from Abby

We’ve been getting requests for the recipes our guest chefs come up with and I keep forgetting to post them! Here’s a great detoxifying raw soup, Abby Cahn-Anton’s Creamy Sea of Green, packed with nutrients and a few dashes of  spice for a little kick.

Creamy Sea of Green Soup

by Abby Cahn Anton of SuperSimpleSuperFoods.com

1 avocado

4 cups baby spinach

1 – 2 Tbs raw apple cider vinegar

2 cups water

1 cucumber

¼ – ½ cup dulse

1 tsp fresh ginger

1½ tsp Sunfire salt

½ tsp black pepper

pinch cayenne

pinch mustard powder

1 tsp spirulina powder (opt.)

1 tsp blue green algae flakes or 4 tsp liquid (opt.)

Place all ingredients (except blue green algae) in blender in order listed. Begin blending at low speed for a few moments, then blend on high until desired consistency (1 – 2 minutes). Be careful not to over-blend as that will degrade delicate nutrients. Add optional blue green algae and blend on low for a couple of seconds. For maximum freshness, enjoy within a few hours. Yield 5 cups.

Bon appetit!

CleanseATX Jersey-style

We are very happy to be a  part of this first-ever New Jersey CleanseATX!

Votes for Totes

We promised a contest, here we go! It’s simple…

We ran out of reusable tote bags a while ago. We need to order new ones. And we need YOU to decide which one will be the lucky design to be printed.

Interview with a Raw Foodie

As many of you know, sometime last year we started holding monthly classes on raw foods, taught by local musician and raw foods aficionado Abby Cahn-Anton. We have one coming up this weekend, as a matter of fact. What you don’t know is – who is Abby Cahn-Anton? What is she all about?

I had the opportunity to find out in the following never-before done interview. What are raw foods all about, what made her change her lifestyle to raw? Has she ever “cheated?” Find out all that and more: Abby Cahn-Anton: Interview with a Raw Foodie.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I consider myself very lucky. My mother made sure I ate healthy food and stayed away from so-called “junk food.” Only small amounts of soda, chips, candy and other heavily processed foods passed my lips during my childhood. I ate lots of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as whole grain bread. Nonetheless, the way I ate as a kid was a far cry from what I now consider to be healthy and I had my fair share of other-than-perfect health. Yet the seeds of wisdom were planted. I knew that what I ate was an important part of being healthy.

When I was in my 20s and out on my own for the first time, I became a vegetarian. I noticed pretty quickly that I stopped getting the usual “seasonal” colds and viruses. Now that I’m well into what might be termed “middle age,” I’m able to see that my life has been shaped by a passion for eating consciously. I’m continually upgrading my diet and health practices.

New Stuff

We can barely keep up with all the exciting new things we’re bringing in lately, but we did want to make some time to tell you about at least some of them. Let’s start off with something we are intrigued with: THE SPOONK.

The Spoonk Acupressure Massage Mat is… sort of looks like a yoga mat, except that unlike a yoga mat, it’s covered in little rubber spikes. SIX THOUSAND little rubber spikes. (6,210 to be precise.) And you should do what with this mat?

Six Thousand Spikes of Spoonk

Lay on it. Stand on it. Feel it working. The mat is designed as a cross between Japanese shiatsu massage/acupressure and an Indian bed of nails in the way that the spikes stimulate pressure and reflex points throughout your body, releasing energy, stimulating blood flow, releasing endorphins and promoting relaxation at the same time it energizes. It has been said to help relieve back pain, tired feet, digestion and is now going through clinical trials to test its ability as a sleep aid. It even received a Top Choice in Clinical Trials stamp from Dr. Oz.

I gave it a try here at the store to test it out by standing on it. I took off my shoes and stood on it in socks. The sensation was strange and the spikes sharp at first, then energizing, like a foot massage. I could especially feel it on the balls of my feet and toes and when I rolled my feet on their sides. This feeling and tingling lasted for a long while after I put my shoes back on, I could literally feel the blood flow and energy after having stood on the Spoonk for only a few minutes. I think I’ll be buying one…tonight. My feet are making me. I have a suspicion my back will agree.

Also in that we’re jazzed about – Harmless Harvest 100% Organic Raw Coconut Water. The only bottled organic raw coconut water on the market and the world’s only wild-harvested coconut water as well and, if you’ve ever had coconut water straight out of the nut, this is the closest in taste you’ll ever find.

They source their coconuts from small organic agroforestry farms where the coconuts are hand-picked and the juice extracted and bottled within the day. The water is then pressure-treated (without heat) to kill any pathogens and keep it raw – thus keeping as much of its natural nutrition as possible. They are absolutely delicious and some of them are pink – read why here. Get some for yourself here 🙂

Look for the New Product Spotlight logo for what's new at Dean's

Next week, we’ll be holding a little contest – subscribe to make sure you don’t miss it!

Guilt-free Goodies

“Raw food is the preparation of whole uncooked foods. In this way of preparing foods, all the living enzymes and nutrients stay alive to aid the body in healing on a cellular level. Raw foods are never processed over 118 degrees; beyond this temperature the food loses its nutritional value.”

That sounds so scientific, doesn’t it? It’s quite the opposite though – uncooked, unprocessed whole foods as nature intended. Wait, even that sounded a bit too scientific. Let’s break that mood:

Raw Vegan Avocado Lime Pie

Raw Vegan Brownie

Introducing our new line of raw foods and guilt-free desserts. Not only are they guilt-free, they’re actually good for  you. Seriously!

Let’s take the Superfoods Cacao Mint Tart, for example. it’s a delicious crunchy-crusted little pie with a creamy, minty chocolatey filling – Chef Brian says “It tastes to me just like an Andes Candy!” It has the amazing taste down, and then we boosted the health benefits – we added in superfoods like maca, which is known to boost energy, balance hormones and support endocrine health; cacao, which has been shown to help the cardiovascular system (chocolate is good for your heart!); and spirulina, the high protein, nutrient-dense, immune boosting blue-green algae.

Raw Vegan "Meatballs" with our own Raw Marinara Sauce

It’s not just desserts, either – you’ve just gotta try the Raw Vegan “Spaghetti & Meatballs.” We made “pasta” out of zucchini without cooking it, paired it with “meatballs” made of a walnut base and topped it all in dollops of our raw marinara sauce (which has quite a nice kick!). You’ve got protein from the walnuts, which are among the highest in Omega-3s around and have also been shown to help lower cholesterol.  Then there’s the zucchini, high in vitamin C, manganese, B vitamins and antioxidants and tomatoes from the sauce, well, come on, they’re tomatoes. No explanation necessary.

Right now these are available only in our Ocean location but we’ll be rolling them out to Shrewsbury soon as well. Give ’em a try and let us know what you think (PS: You don’t need to register to comment!)

Look for the New Product Spotlight logo for what's new at Dean's

Super (Bowl!) Sunday: What’s on GIANT Sale

This Sunday get your pre-game on with us at Super Sunday! Curious to know what’s going to be on sale this Super Sunday, if it’s worth the trip? You decide – here are the winning products & prices.

Super (Bowl!) Sunday

Who’s going to watch the big game this weekend? Political correctness dictates that Dean’s has no official stance or preference on who wins, but then again, we ARE born-and-bred New Jersey folk, soooo… *cough*cough*bigblue*ahem*cough*

If you’re subscribed to our newsletters, you already know that we’ve got a crazy sale going on – Organic Avocados on sale for only 99¢ each (!!!) ((and who knows how much lower they’ll be on Super (Bowl) Sunday!))

We are ready to rock some guac!

In the Great Spirit of Holy Guacamole, here’s a really easy and yummy recipe that even a first-timer can make and impress your guests with. It’s both vegan and raw to boot.

Holy Guacamole, Batman!
2 ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
1 medium lime, juiced
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
2 tbsp chopped cilantro
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tspblack pepper
1 tbsp finely chopped jalapeño pepper

Place the avocados and lime in a medium bowl and mash with a fork. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Serve immediately with your favorite chips or veggies or cover and chill for up to 3 hours.

Ever pit & peel an avocado? Here’s a neat how-to. Enjoy!