Thursday, March 1, 2012

Apple Goji Berry Delight

Six Servings (about one half cup per serving)

Bring more raw living foods to your dinner table with this delightful raw apple dessert. Sweet crisp red or yellow apples are grated and goji berries are added for their great nutrition and color. An Apple Ginger Sauce adds a sweet tartness and Orange Ginger Mac Nut Cream gives it a smooth creamy texture.

To the Chef: During apple season, shop for apples at your local farmer's market. Look for a sweet crisp apples. If your dates are hard soak them in the apple juice. This recipe was developed with a high speed blender. If using a kitchen blender pregrind the flax seeds. Golden flax seeds are higher in nutrition than the brown variety. Use a good sea salt. If using cashews or other nut other than Mac nuts, do not add the coconut oil as when chilled the cream becomes too hard. Make ginger juice by grating ginger small and squeezing out the juice.

Apple Ginger Sauce
1 cup apple juice, unfiltered
½ cup dates (if hard, soak in the apple juice for 1 hour)
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
¼ cup golden flax seeds (grind first if using a home blender)
2 inches fresh ginger, sliced
2 teaspoons cinnamon powder
½ teaspoon cardamon powder
1 pinch solar dried sea salt (Celtic salt)

Orange Ginger Mac Nut Cream
1 cup Macadamia nuts or other white nut
⅓ cup fresh orange juice or filtered water
¼ cup coconut oil, solftened (only for Mac nuts)
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup or agave nectar
2 tablespoons fresh ginger juice (grate ginger small & squeeze out juice)

Apple & Goji Berries
8 medium apples, grated small (use a food processor if you have one)
½ cup goji berries or currants

For an Artful Presentation
6 thin slices apple
6 goji berries or currants

Apple Ginger Sauce
In a blender, put all the ingredients for the “sauce” and blend until smooth.

Orange Ginger Mac Nut Cream
In a blender, put all the ingredients for the “cream” and blend until smooth. Add more orange juice or water as needed to flow freely through the blender blades but not too much as you want this dessert cream to be thick.

Apples & Goji Berries
In a medium bowl, put the grated apples and goji berries or currants. Add the Apple Ginger Sauce and stir to mix in well. Add ¾ of the Orange Ginger Nac Nut Cream and stir to mix in well. Reserve the remaining cream to use for your presentation.

For an Artful Presentation
For serving family style: In a decorative serving bowl, put the Apple Goji Berry Delight. Mound the remaining Orange Ginger Mac Nut Cream on top and decorate with the apple slices and goji berries or currants. To create individual servings: In 6 dessert bowls or parfet glasses, put equal amounts of the Apple Goji Berry Delight. Add a dollop of the Orange Ginger Mac Nut Cream on top and decorate with the slices of apple and goji berries or currants.

Serving Ideas
Serve as a dessert, as an after school or work snack or sprinkle the top with your favorite granola and serve as breakfast fare.

How to Store
Store in a covered glass food storage container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.