This past weekend I experienced what every new raw foodie anticipates. The first family party since going raw. Up until this point I had been comfortably secluded in a protective bubble of learning and discovering at my own pace. Trying new things with only myself as the critic. The occasional phone conversation or email with my parents about my amazing discovery. But mostly just eating my beloved green salads and green smoothies every day and being in simple bliss!

But now with this family party looming, I had to choose between packing myself a nice personal salad and foregoing everything else, or preparing some delicious raw dishes with the hope that people will want to try them. I chose the latter and with much success!

Zucchini Hummus with cucumber sticks for dipping, Avocado-Tomato Salad, Chocolate Cheesecake, and Chocolate Balls.  The hummus was a no-brainer. Always a big hit at other family parties, the cooked bean variety paved the way for my new raw zucchini kind.  The Avocado-Tomato Salad was thrown together at the last minute because I was hungry right before the party and wanted to eat some immediately upon arriving. (I was going through a phase where I had to eat avocado every day, LOL).

Then come the desserts. A big deal is always made about raw desserts. Some people become raw foodies just because of all the fabulous guilt-free desserts! Up until this point, I had not crossed that threshold of the much revered “raw dessert.” So what the heck, I thought, it’s been three months of raw food… time to indulge in something reckless!

I chose a cheesecake made of cashews on a walnut-date crust with a raw chocolate ganache for topping. And the much-loved “chocolate balls” made with raw cacao powder, raw almond butter, sunflower seeds, and other delights. Those balls reminded my sister and me of the wonderful childhood treats my mother would lovingly bestow upon us. Except that she used carob powder and peanut butter and were not technically raw, but yummy and healthy all the same!

I will post recipes in a later post. Meanwhile here are some pics.

Avocado-Tomato Salad, Raw Cheesecake, Zucchini Hummus

Raw Chocolate Balls