In a past entry, I wrote about enzymes and broke down the details to their benefits and the differences between them. The bottom line: as we get older, all of us loose our ability to produce concentrated digestive enzymes. That’s where raw food comes in! Raw foods are rich in enzymes. Enzymes are needed for the digestive system to work. They are necessary to break down food particles so they can be utilized for energy. The human body makes approximately 22 different digestive enzymes which are capable of digesting carbohydrates, protein and fats. Raw vegetables and raw fruit are rich sources of enzymes.

While all raw foods contain enzymes, the most powerful enzyme-rich food is sprouted seeds, grains, and legumes. Sprouting increases the enzyme content in these foods enormously.

A diet rich in enzymes can increase energy and stamina, as well as support weight loss, healthy skin, and overall good health.

Here is a delicious recipe for a raw, vegan smoothie that’s especially full of enzyme rich foods to aid in digestion.

Enzyme Rich Tummy Tamer

• 2 C coconut water
• 1/2 C fresh or frozen papaya
• 1/2 C fresh or frozen pineapple
• Juice from 1/2 lemon
• few fresh leaves of mint

Raw Food Diet: Eliminate the Damaging Foods

The number one benefit for eating a (mostly) Raw Food Diet is that you are (mostly) eliminating all the processed foods that are DAMAGING to the body. For people eating the ‘Standard American Diet’ (SAD), this is a hard transition to make, but a worthy one. The most important thing is to get MORE raw, natural, unprocessed foods into your daily habits and hoepefully take out some of the cooked, unnatural, processed ones. (which cause food addiction)

Eating enzyme-rich raw foods is not the main reason why people heal and regenerate their bodies. They heal because they are leaving out all the damaging foods. Now don’t get me wrong… these enzymes and raw foods are GREAT and they do nourish the body, especially if you are consuming them as vegetable juices and smoothies. When you cook food it changes in its molecular composition, which in turn makes foods more damaging to the body.

Most important take-home message: You can eat enzyme-rich raw foods until you are blue in the face, and you are not going to heal unless you also eliminate these processed foods from your intake.

We can help you! Start with a Universal Luv Pak (long distance cleanse program) and we’ll work from there.

zuddhagirls@gmail.com

I’ll never forget the first time I watched almonds blend away and white, pure “milk” be created. It’s a surreal experience, try it for yourself!

To make dairy-free mylk, you can use pretty much any seed, grain or nut. I like almond, oat and coconut mylk the best. Experiment with your own taste buds  to see what works for you.

Mylk Ingredients:

• Nuts or seeds of choice
• Pure water
• sweetener of your choice (a few soft dates, raw honey, raw agave or stevia)
• 1 pinch of unprocessed sea salt (optional)

To create Mylk:

1. Soak nuts or seeds (almonds and hazelnuts for 8-12 hours, sunflower seeds or brazil nuts for 3 hours) I like to soak the nuts before bed and then in the morning it’s ready for biz-nas!

Before blending...

2. Place soaked nuts or seeds in a blender so that the nuts are even with the level of the uppermost part of the blades.

..after!!!

3. Add pure water to just cover the nuts and blend until smooth. Add more water until desired consistency is reached.

4. Sweeten to suit your taste buds with a soft date or two, raw agave, raw honey or a packet or drop of stevia (if you use too much stevia, it will become bitter). Strain with cheesecloth or a nut milk bag.

5. Make only what you will use in a day or two. Refrigerate.

(These mylks will go bad after about 48 hours)

Vanilla Hemp Seed Mylk:

• 1/4 cup shelled hempseeds (buy them in air-tight containers, not from bulk bins where they can be rancid)
• 1 liter pure water
• 1 pinch of unprocessed sea salt (optional)
• sweetener of your choice
• vanilla pod or a few drops of vanilla stevia instead of sweetener

To Create Mylk:

1. Place the hempseeds in a blender with just enough water to cover them and blend well.

2. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth.

3. Strain in a mesh strainer and drink! Refrigerate the remainder.

Optional: for a thicker, more omega 3 rich milk, soak 1/4 cup flax seeds for 2 hours, then rinse and blend with hemp seeds.

*If you want to make these mylks chocolate for a kid or for a yummy treat, add raw cacao powder at the end of the final blend. It tastes DELICIOUS and no one will ever know you are drinking something with amazing superfoods, antioxidants and health benefits!!!

I stared at my fruit bowl today and felt sad. My pears and apples were going to go bad any minute and I knew we wouldn’t eat them in time. There were just too many. What to do?? Make a raw pie crumble of course!! This dessert can obviously be just made of apples and use as many different varieties as you like.

Ingredients for Crust:

* 2 cups almonds (soaked 12-24 hours)

*2 cups pitted dates

*1 tsp orange or lemon zest

Ingredients for filling:

*5-6 organic apples

*3-4 organic pears

*1 cup raisins (soaked several hours in just enough water to cover them)

*2 tbsp ground flax seeds or psyllium powder

*2 tsp cinnamon powder

*1/2 tsp allspice powder

*1/2 tsp nutmeg powder

*1 pinch Garam masala

To make crust:

place all crust ingredients in a food processor and process with the S blade until it resembles dough. It will form a ball in the processor, then you know it’s ready! Press into a pie plate or 9×12 pan.

To make filling:

*Core and chop the apples and pears into medium sized pieces. Place half the apples into a food processor along with the rest of the ingredients, including the water from the soaking raisin’s, and process until smooth. Set aside the mixture in a mixing bowl.

Place the rest of the apples in food processor and pulse until a chunky texture is achieved. Mix the batches together. Pour into the pie shell or pan and enjoy!

Letting the pie settle in the refrigerator for a few hours will stiffen up the filling. Or place in the oven on low for a few minutes with vegan ice cream on top! yum!

Garnish with apple slices and sprinkle spices on top!

–>SPOTS ARE FILLING, RESERVE YOUR SPOT WITH A DEPOSIT BY EMAILING US!

Love Thy Self

~ The February Cleanse ~

This Valentine’s Day, show some love to the person you owe it to most: yourself. Make the choice to nurture your body. When we are centered, happy and healthy, goals become realities and nothing can bring us down. Take time for yourself, and the rest will follow.

Try one of our organic, vegan cleanses made with lots of love! All delivered to your very own door!

What’s it all about?

Three days of pure foods that will satisfy, fill and nourish, while aiding in weight-loss and energy gain. Not a big time commitment for 5 lbs, is it? We provide the meals, the meals do the cleaning. It’s really that simple. All of the foods we use pack vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, antioxidants and super-awesome detoxifying powers. Clean your insides, remove toxins, and put in some good, juicy nutrients into that beautiful body of yours! It’s time to get that skin replenished and glowing again! Meals include vegan entrees, soups, raw dishes, savory salads, liquid energizers, liver flushes, smoothies, juices and healthy desserts! Many of these foods will make you feel happier, lighter, calmer, cleaner and more clear. And for further cleansing and lifestyle maintenance, we send you home with a packet complete with recipes, tips and meal plans to continue your adventure into a love affair with your beautiful self!

3 Days for $350 Cleanse begins Monday Feb 7th!!!!

Who we are.

Hello, Loves! We are Chefs Sophie Jaffe of Philosophie and Danielle Larson of Mama Earth’s Kitchen!  Sophie is a certified raw food chef and has three years of experience designing cleanses for private clientele, including celebrities. Danielle is a classicly trained natural foods chef with a plant-based personal chef and catering business and has cooked for Hollywood icons. Together we combine our knowledge of holistic nutrition, our love of food and our passion for creating new delicious dishes that fuel the body. We do not attempt to treat, diagnose or cure any disease. That said, we believe in the power of foods and the effect they have on the body. Don’t know what we’re talking about? Try us.

Ready to give it a whirl? Call or email today to reserve your spot!

310. 291. 5266 ~OR~ sophie@thephilosophie.com

CHECK US OUT ON THE HUFFINGTON POST (TOP THINGS TO DO TO DETOX FOR THE NEW YEAR) AND VITAL JUICE’S TOP 5 FAVORITE THINGS FROM 2010!!!!!

Only 2 spots left! Hurry & sign up!

ARE YOU READY??????

do you live in Los Angeles?

apple, carrot and ginger juice

WHAT IT IS: We prepare organic, vegan whole foods cleanses and deliver them to your door. Three days of pure foods that will satisfy and fill, while aiding in weight-loss and energy gain. Not a big time commitment for 5 lbs, is it? It’s really that simple. And for further cleansing and lifestyle maintenance, we send you home with a packet complete with recipes, tips and meal plans to continue your transition into the new year and the new you.

Only $350. or sign up a friend and both are $299.

Sign up by calling (323) 422-5348 or (310) 291-5266

or by emailing sophie@thephilosophie.com

This is a one time, never before seen special price to get YOU healthy and happy for the New Year. Start out 5 pounds lighter, save money and get the tools to keep your abundant health going with our nifty packet!

Check out this new recipe to BLAST your energy levels without coffee or a redbull!

——–> click here for VIDEO RECIPE!!! <———-

This is good for ANYONE and EVERYONE… moms, dads, nanny’s, and just about any person trying to get more energy and feel good…in a natural way! If you aren’t getting the sleep you wish you were, this is for you! Lots of superfoods and healing herbs will  deeply satisfy your system so that you don’t need anything else. Give it a try and let me know how it goes!!!

make an epic Superfood Smoothie! Recipe:

1 tsp Tumeric (healing, antibacterial, anticancer)
1 tsp Holy Basil (stress relief, immune stimulator, powerful antioxidants/vitamins)
1 cup Kale (powerful superfood vegetable full of chlorophyll and nutrients!)
1 tsp Spirulina (protein, cleansing, B vitamins, happy food!)
1 Banana (frozen preferably, add more for sweetness)
1 tablespoon Hemp Protein (excellent source of vegetarian/vegan protein)
8 oz Coconut Milk (or almond/rice) (good source of healthy fats!)
Agave to taste
Ice to temp!

Last weekend I was really craving a peppermint patty. I made my girlfriend pull into a (*gasp!) gas station to buy me one because I needed it so badly. I’m a big mint&chocolate person… my favorite flavor of ice cream is mint chocolate chip. I’m so glad there are a few great vegan brands out there now made with coconut milk or almond milk. I have yet to find a good substitute for peppermint patty’s though! I decided to get working in the kitchen, and here’s what I came up with! (inspired by a recipe by Kelly Keough)

Ingredients:

*1 1/2 cups extra virgin coconut oil, melted

*3/4 C hemp butter

*1/2 C ZSweet (see bottom of post)

*1 teaspoon peppermint extract

*3 drops of liquid stevia peppermint

*3 drops of liquid stevia chocolate

*1/4 C agave

*3/4 C vegan carob chips (melted) or powder

*1/2 C raw cacao nibs

FILLING

*1/2 C hemp butter

*1/4 C agave

*1/4 C powdered ZSweet

*2 drops of liquid stevia peppermint

Line mini cup cake tins with paper liners. Melt coconut oil by placing jar under hot water. when coconut oil turns to a liquid, pour the oil in medium bowl. Slowly whisk in hemp butter until smooth.

Whisk ZSweet into wet batter. Add in peppermint extract, liquid stevias, and agave one at a time and blend.

Slowly stir in the carob and cacao powder a spoonful at a time. Stir raw cacao nibs one at a time. Batter should run off the spoon easily, but not too runny.

To make the filling:

in a small bowl, mix together hemp butter and agave. Add ZSweet and Liquid stevia and mix. with two spoons, drop a small teaspoon full of filling into prepared paper liners.

Spoon a tablespoon full of prepared batter on top of the filling. Freeze for 15 minutes. Store in the freezer.

Yield: 50 candies

Score!!

My Hubby Loved them!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A fellow LA vegan chef, Kelly Keough, introduced me to ZSweet. This recipe was my first time experimenting with the calorie free sugar substitute, and to be honest I didn’t taste any difference. I am going to keep experimenting with it and let you know my thoughts! So far, so good!

Hi lovely Philosophie readers! <3

Here are 5 Tips I gave to London’s delicious restaurant Insprial to start bringing more raw and vegan foods into your life.

Sophie’s Top 5 tips for going raw-vegan

1. Luckily, no matter where you live, anything is available now. Get a fun cookbook (or “uncook” book!) or DVD from the internet and get started!
2. Begin slowly. Don’t take on too much. Cut things out one at a time, dairy seems to be the hardest for people. Start with just milk for example, supplementing with almond or rice milk. From there move to raw cheese, etc.
3. Make sure if you are going vegan, it’s for the right reasons. I’ve heard plenty of people (especially in the Hollywood community) that “went vegan” to get “skinny” like celebrities. Then they end up gaining weight! You want to make choices that please you and make YOU happy, not just following trends blindly.
4. Whichever new diet you take on, be sure to get enough green vegetables.
5. Always know that we are ever evolving creatures and constantly going through phases. Be patient with yourself!! This is supposed to be enjoyable, not a punishment.

The full interview can be found on the Inspiral website, where I designed their new raw and vegan full menu! I wish they were closer!!! I miss their desserts BADLY (vegan tiramisu anyone!?! eek!) Full Interview: Click Here

A friend of mine wanted me to make a raw, gluten-free, dairy-free cake for her co-worker who loves chocolate.  Here’s the recipe I used:

Crust:

raw chocolate cake!

• 1/2 C cacao powder
• 1/2 C carob powder
• 1/2 C ground raw almonds
• 1/3 C agave/honey
• 1/4 C cacao butter
• sea salt to taste

Filling:

• 2 C Cacao powder
• 1 1/2 C agave
• 1 C coconut butter (melt by placing in a warm/hot bowl of water)
• 1 tbsp lucuma powder

1. take all ingredients for the crust and mix in the food processor. Once they are combined, take the filling and push it into a pie/tart pan with your fingers. (the best kinds are the ones that have a removable bottom) Chill in the fridge for an hour or freezer for 30 minutes.

2. Mix the filling ingredients and add on top of the filling. Put back in the fridge or freezer for at least an hour. Viola!

You’ll never know (or anyone else) that this is completely gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free and HEALTHY for you! Cacao is the highest ranked antioxidant in the world!

*Top with raspberries, strawberries and/or nuts and drizzles of cacao! (an easy cacao topping is mixing cacao powder and agave with a spoon until it’s runny)