Embrace it!

My word of the year 2013 is EMBRACE!

Dictionary.com defines Embrace as:

• to take or clasp in the arms; press to the bosom; hug.
• to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly: to embrace an idea.
• to avail oneself of: to embrace an opportunity.
• to adopt (a profession, a religion, etc.): to embrace Buddhism.
• to take in with the eye or the mind.

For me, it means embracing  love, life, change, ideas, new…everything.  Embrace the good, the bad and the ugly.  It’s all good.  I’m going to embrace it all.

~I mentioned before that as a family we decided to do a New Year Cleanse (henceforth called the “crazy cleanse”).  We felt we needed a bit a of a digestive “reset” after weeks of eating too much of everything.  We’d all been feeling bloated and uncomfortable, sluggish-just not ourselves.  We’re now into week 2, there is 1 more week to go and we are all feeling much better digestively, if feeling a little (okay, a lot…) deprived of some of our “everyday” food.  Like bread, cheese, muffins and the occasional dessert.  So this past weekend, I dove into the internet in search of a dessert that would satisfy everyone–but it had to be dairy free, gluten free, egg free, soy free, peanut free and refined sugar free–that’s a pretty tall order, no?

Here is what I found, and you know what?  It was REALLY good!
(but definitely not a budget dessert!)

Raw Double Chocolate “Cheesecake”
Adapted from Pure2raw.com

pecan chocolate crust:
2 cup pecan meal (just ground up pecans, can use any nut meal of liking)
8-10 dates (or 2-3 tbsp maple syrup)
1/2 cup cacao powder (cocoa powder)
pinch salt

Place all ingredients into a food processor (can do in a blender) and pulse till combined. you want the crust to slightly stick together.

Scoop your pecan chocolate crust into the pan of your choice (I used a 9 1/2″ pie plate). Press down with fingers to firmly place the crust into pan.

chocolate filling:
2 cups raw cashew, pieces (you can find these at the bulk store)
1/2 cup coconut oil, liquid
1/2 cup maple syrup or honey or a combo of both
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup cocoa powder

Soak cashews for about 10- 15 minutes then rinse well. Place cashews into processor with maple syrup, and water. blend for a little bit to get it creamy.

Next add in your cocoa powder and coconut oil. Blend till creamy, you may have to scrape down the sides a few times. Just keep blending till it is nice and smooth-it will take longer than you think!

Once chocolate filling is blended begin scooping your filling into your pie plate. Regridgerate until ready to eat.

Top with Coconut Whipped Cream (1 can full fat coconut milk, 1 tbsp honey-whisk until fluffy) and toasted pecans.