Raw Vegan Cinnamon Instant-Pie Sauce

The internet is full of raw dessert recipes, but how many of us have time in our daily routines to actually make a three layer cacao cake? And wasn't the point of getting into raw foods to eat more fruits and veggies? So the health gurus will tell you to stop making everything out of cashews, coconut oil, and agave and just eat a piece of fruit! While that may be great advise it is also, well, boring.

I find that compromise is the solution to most problems. In this recipe you can have the fruit and a bit of the dessert decadence as well! Plus you can make it in about 5 minutes. Feel free to get creative and use whatever fruits you like to be smothered in this deliciousness. I recommend apples or pears, but peaches or pineapple could make for interesting combinations as well. Sprinkle on nuts, seeds, or raisins to add a little extra flavor and texture. This sauce is also great for dipping and can be an easy treat for on-the-go snacking!

You life shouldn't be battling diet, just as your enjoyment shouldn't be battling your health. Balance is beautiful... and delicious.

6 dates, pitted
1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons liquid sweetener (maple syrup, honey, agave, coconut nectar)
1 tablespoon tahini
1 1/4 cups water
dash of pink himalayan salt

Put all ingredients in a blender. Add additional water if needed. Enjoy!

Raw Vegan Salted Caramel Smoothie

When I was about 12 years old I had my first Starbucks experience. I was wandering the mall with another girl who seemed untouchably hip. We were bearing our souls, which likely meant complaining about family life and confessing our crushes. She suggested we get a coffee drink, which was kind of like a "good" girl's version of a cigarette. At the same time we could feign adulthood with a caffeine habit, we could also indulge in our childhood by getting a caramel frappacino, dripping in syrupy sweetness.

What I didn't care about then was the fact that this drink was packed full of preservatives, mainly made out of chemicals, and was highly acidic. Not to mention I was supporting a monster corporations and a nightmarish dairy industry.

I still often find myself longing for decadent sweet drinks to fill the reward cravings. So this morning I whipped up a healthy smoothie reminiscent of everything I loved about that gooey caramel drink... minus everything I want to avoid as an adult.

3 bananas
7 dates, pitted
4 tablespoons tahini
1 tablespoon liquid sweetener (maples syrup, honey, agave, or coconut nectar)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or vanilla bean scraped, if you may be so lucky)
1 1/2 cups coconut water
1 1/2 cups water

*pink Himalayan salt and extra liquid sweetener for rim

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend well until smooth. (Dates can take away to break down.) Take a glass or mason jar and add a bit of sweetener around the rim. On a plate lay out the salt. Gently rub the rim of the glass into the salt. Pour in the smoothie and serve.