The Avocado Queen Welcomes You

This blog is mostly about raw vegetarian/vegan recipes, many of which incorporate avocados. Since I became a raw/live food vegan several years ago, avocados became an important part of my diet. I'd even say that they are my favorite food, and as it turns out, they are also considered one of the world's healthiest foods. While my primary purpose here is to showcase avocados and how awesome they are, I will also share some recipes that are just plain good raw/live food as well as vegan food.

Most recipes are accompanied by a meditation or reflection - posting as "food for thought."

Wishing you peace, love, joy, and blessings wherever you are in your journey towards health...

All recipes of the Avocado Queen are original creations. In some cases, variations on other recipes have been made and credit of that original source has been given.

All content on this blog is strictly the property of the owner or has been used with permission. If you see a recipe or photo that you like, please contact the owner for permission to share it...more than likely, your request will be honored as long as you agree to give credit to the original source.

10.14.2012

Recipe for Moderation - (raw vegan) Carrot Cake Treats

"All things in moderation."

What is moderation?  What is the wisdom of this old adage?

Moderation is the middle way.  It is the path advised by the Greeks, through which we fly neither too close to the sun nor too close to the sea.  Moderation is meant to ensure balance, integrity, and bring us closer to union with the Divine.  Rather than thinking of moderation as permission for the occasional partaking in extremes - whether in excess or in deficiency, it may be more useful to think of moderation as taking only what we need - no more, no less - in any given moment.

Thus, in a diet in which we take only what we need - no more, no less - we should consider eating foods that restore balance, provide complete nourishment, and satisfy our emotional and physical needs.  For many of us, this means finding healthier alternatives of the foods we love, especially those foods that are equally rich with emotional ingredients.  We may need to accept that an alternative is not an exact replica and replacement, however, it may help us in our efforts to observe moderation.  When it comes to food, observing moderation may be taking in just the right amount salt, sugar, and fat.  Rather than obsessing over labels, it may be more useful to find recipes where such things are already moderated.  

It is also important to remember, that when we make food ourselves, we know exactly what we are putting into our bodies and in what portion.  Moreover, by preparing food from scratch, we can create a positive relationship with what we are eating.  This relationship, coupled with offering and prayer, transforms our eating habits as we become both consciously appreciative and grateful for every morsel.

One more word of wisdom: Be moderate, even in observing moderation.

A recipe for moderation - Carrot Cake Treats

Equipment needed: dehydrator, food processor (2+ cup), spatula, mixing bowl

  • 1 cup raw soaked sunflower seeds (soak 6-8 hours)
  • 1 tsp extra virgin first cold press olive oil
  • 1 cup Thompson raisins
  • 6-8 dates (pits removed)
  • 1 tart apple, such as Granny Smith (sliced with core removed)
  • 1 cup shredded carrots (use a food grater or grating plate of a food processor)


In a food processor, combine the raw soaked sunflower seeds, apple, and olive oil with the S blade.  As the mixture is processing, add in the dates and raisins.  Remove this mixture to a mixing bowl.  In the mixing bowl, combine with shredded carrots.

Spoon out the mixture in 1" balls onto Teflex dehydrator sheets.  Dehydrate 8-10 hours at 110 degrees.  Flip and dehydrate another 6-8 hours or so.  They should be moist and chewy when complete.

Bite-sized and delicious, enjoy these sweet treats as a dessert or snack - in moderation. 

Please remember that although, the sugars in these treats are naturally derived, it is best to limit sugar intake.  However, this recipe provides a healthier alternative, and  may be a guilt-free way to satisfy one's carrot cake craving :)

9.30.2012

Recipe for Joy - Avocado, Tomato, Cucumber Salad

Where is your joy?  All of us have a capacity for joy.  Joy is always a choice.  Sometimes, we find joy easily.  Sometimes, it seems that our joy is buried deep, hidden away.

When sitting quietly with closed eyes, following the breath, and concentrating at the center of the chest, we can tap into the rhythm of the heart beat, which always a place where we can find joy.  

A Recipe for Joy - Avocado, Tomato, Cucumber Salad

  • 1 medium cucumber (or equivalent), cut into round slices
  • 2 Roma tomatoes (or equivalent), cut into round slices
  • 1 avocado, cubed
  • olive oil
  • sea salt

***organic, local cucumbers and tomatoes preferred***

Toss the cucumber, tomatoes, and avocado with extra virgin first cold press olive oil and sea salt.  Makes 1-2 servings.  Just add more ingredients proportionally to yield more servings.

These ingredients are simple and flavorful.  Some foods seem to have been meant to be eaten together, which is what we have here.  This recipe brings joy, nourishing the heart, and healing the body, the mind, and the spirit.


Tap into the heart.
Experience joy.

6.13.2012

A Recipe for Refreshment - Cool Avocado Sprouted-Chickpea Salad

As the hot days of summer start approaching, we seek refreshment.  In the heat of late spring and summer, I prefer to eat light, simple, fresh, raw foods.  This is a recipe that reminds me of the Mediterranean -- not only with its flavors but also the way it feels when I eat it...it seems as if I've just been transported to an exotic Greek island or the French Rivera.  This dish promises to be both light and satisfying as well as cooling and refreshing.  It is perfect alone as a salad or as a side-dish for a summer solstice celebration.


Although this is an easy live/raw recipe to prepare, it does require pre-planning for sprouting time.

Recipe for Refreshment: Cool Avocado Sprouted-Chickpea Salad

Prepare chickpeas in advance: Soak for 8-12 hours.  Sprout (I use a colander with a saucer on top) for another 8-12 hours.  The chickpeas will double in size, which should be taken into consideration for the amount of salad you wish to prepare.

In a mixing bowl, whisk together:
  • 4 TB organic extra virgin first-cold press olive oil
  • 2 TB nama shoyu / tamari / Bragg's Aminos
  • 2 TB richly flavored balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp Herbs de Provence (dry)***
  • dash of freshly ground black pepper

Toss the following ingredients into the mixing bowl:
  • 1 1/2 cups sprouted chickpeas
  • 1 - 1 1/2 cups organic cherry/grape tomatoes - cut into halves
  • 1 small avocado - cut into cubes
  • 1 handful fresh chopped basil
  • a few sprigs of fresh mint leaves - chopped
photograph by Jon-Erik Lido

EAT IMMEDIATELY and ENJOY the REFRESHING FLAVORS of SUMMER and the MEDITERRANEAN!!!

***To ensure the best quality flavor, I suggest preparing your own Herbs de Provence by dehydrating your own herbs or local organic herbs from the farmer's market and then mixing together according to the following recipe:

  • 2 tablespoons dried, crushed lavender (KEY INGREDIENT) 
  • 2 tablespoons plus 11/2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 2 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried sage
  • 1 teaspoon dried, crushed rosemary

5.30.2012

Recipe for Inspiration- "Pasta" Primavera

Consider a moment in life, when it felt like your breath was taken away...taken away by the awe-inspiring wonder of your surroundings...the incredible universe in which we live.


Perhaps this happened on a mountain top or under a sky lit only by the twinkling of stars or while admiring some other splendor of nature.  Or perhaps it was during that otherwise ordinary evening walk when you actually stopped and smelled the roses.


Inhale inspiration.  


Let yourself be inspired by the beauty of life, the beauty within you, the beauty of the universe.


From a Yogi Tea bag: "The beauty of life is to experience yourself."  Each moment is a new experience, an opportunity to be inspired, an opportunity to appreciate beauty.

Recipe for Inspiration - "Pasta" Primavera

(This recipe makes 2 hearty servings.)


Kitchen Equipment: Whisk (I like a "Swedish" whisk), Spiral Slicer or Mandolin Slicer or Food Processor Shredding Disk


Whisk together...
  • 2/3 cup olive oil (organic; first cold press)
  • 1/2 lemon juiced
  • 1 TB nutritional yeast
  • 1 clove of garlic - pressed or chopped very fine (or use garlic powder)
  • dash of sea salt


Pasta Ingredients:
  • 2 medium to large size zucchini/yellow squash - cut into "spaghetti" noodles with spiral slicer, mandolin, or shredding disk of a food processor
  • 5-6 sliced white/cremini mushrooms 
  • fresh kalamata olives - cut into pieces, if preferred
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes - cut in halves
  • Toss all of these ingredients with the olive oil sauce until well coated


Garnish with...
  • handful of fresh basil - chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped raw/sprouted walnuts (preferrably soaked and dehydrated) - 1/4 cup per plate
  • avocado slices
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • fennel seeds to taste (about 1/2 TB per plate)
***Note: I've never tried to use kelp noodles as the "pasta" but that is certainly an option I intend to experiment with soon.