Vegan Nut Ball Cheese

Who doesn't love cheese? Cheese is a beloved food of many and a common staple in most households. So what do you do when you decide to make a good choice for your health and become a Vegan? Well, you start making your own "cheese."

We make many different varieties of cheese including American Cheese, Queso, Spicy Almond Cheese, Cream Cheese, Pine Nut Parmesan Cheese and Nut Ball Cheese to name a few. Today, we are going to share with you our recipe for Nut Ball Cheese!

This recipe is one that is very popular for parties. It seems like no matter how large of a recipe we make, there is never any left over!

You can serve it many different ways: As one large mold (shown in photo), as a large ball, as many small balls, cut into small squares - the possibilities are endless! You can serve it on rice crackers, flax crackers, cucumbers, tomatoes and more.

Nut Ball Cheese

1½ cups raw brazil nuts
¼ cup lemon juice
4 Tbsp olive oil, divided
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 tsp Celtic sea salt
¼ cup, water

¼ cup nutritional yeast
2 Tbsp fresh parsley
2 Tbsp fresh rosemary
1 Tbsp fresh thyme

½ tsp ground black pepper

 

Place nuts in bowl, cover with water and refrigerate 6 hours or overnight. Drain water from nuts and put nuts in food processor with lemon juice, 3 Tbsp olive oil, garlic, salt and ¼ cup water. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add nutritional yeast and reblend. Chop parsley, rosemary and thyme and combine with pepper in a bowl.

 

Option 1: Place in saran wrap to help you “mold” into ball shape. Carefully unwrap cheese ball and coat with chopped nuts  (optional) and herb mixture. Place into dehydrator and warm until ball begins to crack. Transfer to platter and drizzle with remaining olive oil.

 

Option 2: Place the cheese mixture in a 9x13 pan and spread across bottom of pan. Top cheese with chopped nuts and herb mixture. Place into dehydrator and warm.

 

Option 3: Roll cheese into small (1 inch) balls. Roll in herb mixture.

 

Serve with crackers and fresh vegetables.

Macadamia Manicotti Marinara

Welcome to the world of gourmet raw foods! This raw, vegan, gluten-free manicotti is an excellent way to introduce your carnivorous friends to raw foods.

Last weekend we had a Culinary Class for 16 people at the Hallelujah Acres Lifestyle Center in Plant City, Florida. This is one of the dishes we demonstrated. While watching us prepare the manicotti the guests were not sure what to expect. How could zucchini filled with nuts and spinach possibly taste good?

When it was time to sample this culinary creation our guests' faces lit up and they were in awe at how flavorful it was.

There are two different ways that we serve this dish. You will see our favorite way in the photos below. Method #1: We like this method just because it takes less time and still makes a beautiful presentation. To accomplish this, simply slice your zucchini with a mandoline. Then put a spoonful of the mixture on half of the length of the zucchini and fold it over.

Method #2: This method looks more like traditional manicotti. Slice the zucchini with a mandoline. Take three strips and overlap them making a wider sheet to work with. It should be approximately 3" x 6”.  Spoon 2 – 3 tablespoons of the mixture onto the zucchini slices and roll them up.

Macadamia Manicotti Marinara

By Wholly Alive

2  cups pre-soaked macadamia nuts
2 tsp mellow white miso
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 – 5 medium zucchini
1 Tbsp fresh basil
1 Tbsp fresh oregano
1 Tbsp onion powder
1 cup shredded spinach
½ tsp sea salt

Put nuts through the Green Star or Champion Juicer (it’s always helpful to grind them first in a blender or processor). Measure out one cup of the resulting nut butter and place it in a food processor with the miso, garlic, basil, oregano, onion powder and salt. Process until smooth. Transfer mixture to a bowl and stir in the spinach.

Using 4 – 5 medium zucchini and a mandolin, slice the zucchini into paper-thin strips about 6” long. Take three strips and overlap them making a wider sheet to work with. It should be approximately 3 x 6”. Make as many as you can until you use up the zucchini. Spoon 2 – 3 tablespoons of the ricotta onto the zucchini slices and roll them up. Use marinara sauce recipe and pour over “manicotti.”

Marinara Sauce

3 - 4 large tomatoes, peeled
1 - 2 cloves garlic, minced (or to taste)
2 green onions, chopped
4 - 5 softened dates i.e. Medjool
3 Tbsp cold pressed virgin olive oil
1 tsp sun-dried sea salt
1 - 2 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
¼ cup fresh parsley

Process tomatoes in a VitaMix (or blender) for a few seconds. Add remaining ingredients and continue to blend until the sauce is thick and chunky. Serve over prepared Macadamia Manicotti Marinara.

Can be served warmed, but be careful so as to keep enzymes alive.

Brazil Nut Parmesan Cheese

1 cup Brazil nuts
1 tsp garlic, chopped
½ tsp sea salt

In a bowl of a food processor with the “S” blade, process until fluffy. To be sprinkled over top of Macadamia Manicotti Marinara.

The Best Way to Feed Your Dog

What are you feeding your dog?

Is it the typical dead, crunchy kibble that is so popular? Kibble can be to dogs what fast food is to humans - it is convenient but not so healthy. No animal will thrive at its full potential if given the wrong food. Just like us, our pets are made up of living cells, and they need LIVING FOOD to nourish those cells!

While humans are meant to be herbivores, our dogs are meant to be omnivores. The chart below shows just a few examples of the differences between carnivores / omnivores vs herbivores.

The best food for dogs is a Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet. This diet consists of raw meats, finely ground raw bones, fruits and vegetables.

Most commercial dog foods contain large amounts of grains, fillers, chemicals and by-products. Dogs can not utilize these ingredients and the empty calories lead to obesity and other health problems. Dogs digest moisture through their intestines so even with fresh water available, kibble can lead to dehydration and urinary tract problems.

Carnivores / Omnivores	Herbivores
Long, sharp teeth capable of capturing prey	Flat molars for chewing
Claws capable of hunting and trapping prey	Hands for picking fruit and harvesting vegetables
Intestines are 3-6 times length of body	Intestines are 10-12 times length of body
Smooth intestines shaped like a pipe to allow meat to pass through quickly	Bumpy, winding intestines to allow plant foods to pass through slowly for optimal nutrient absorption
Jaw moves up and down to rip and tear flesh and swallow it whole	Jaw moves side to side and front to back, good for chewing and grinding
Stronger stomach acidity to break down animal flesh and kill viruses present in the meat	Stomach acidity not capable of killing viruses such as E. Coli and salmonella.
Eat up to 25% of their weight at a time	Humans can not eat a 40-pound steak...

Raw bones are very good for your dog and much safer than cooked bones which tend to splinter. Chewing on raw bones will keep your dog's teeth white and greatly reduce any halitosis.

You can start feeding your dog raw with either dehydrated meals or frozen meals. You will need to look online to see where they are available near you or you can order online in most cases. Feeding your dog raw foods will look like the cost is much greater. But, the food lasts longer than the typical dog food. With Sojo's, for example, one pound of food makes approximately five founds of fresh, raw dog food once it is re-hydrated. You also give less food to your dog because there are no fillers. You are just giving your pet high-quality, nutrition-filled food.

Here are some great raw foods for your dog. There are several varieties available. This is just a sample of what is offered. (Be sure to get the grain free varieties)

Sojo's Complete	The Honest Kitchen Force	Primal Pet Foods Canine Chicken Formula	BARF Juicy Chicken Recipe
Raw, Dehydrated	Raw, Dehydrated	Raw, Frozen	Raw, Frozen
Ingredients: sweet potatoes, USDA turkey, whole egg, broccoli, celery, apples, flax meal, pecans, tricalcium phosphate, pumpkin, cranberries, basil, dried alfalfa, ginger root, dried kelp, zinc sulfate, vitamin E acetate, vitamin D3	Ingredients: Dehydrated free-range chicken, organic flaxseed, potatoes, celery, sweet potatoes, apples, alfalfa, organic kelp, honey, zucchini, green beans, cabbage, bananas, papayas, basil, garlic, rosemary, tricalcium phosphate, choline chloride, zinc amino acid chelate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, potassium iodide, potassium chloride, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate.	Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Necks, Ground Chicken Bones, Chicken Hearts, Organic Kale, Organic Carrots, Organic Yams, Chicken Livers, Organic Broccoli, Organic Apples, Organic Ground Flaxseed, Cranberries, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Parsley, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Kelp, Alfalfa, Mixed Tocopherols (source of vitamin E).	Ingredients: Chicken, Finely Ground Bones, Chicken Liver, Egg, Broccoli, Celery, Spinach, Carrot, Ground Flax Seed, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Apple, Pear, Grapefruit, Orange, Dried Kelp, Cayenne Pepper, Cod Liver Oil, Garlic, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide
sojos.com	thehonestkitchen.com	primalpetfoods.com	barfworld.com

Most of these brands can also be ordered on a convenient website, www.petflow.com. On PetFlow you can place your order online and have the food shipped right to your door. You can even set up an auto-delivery schedule that fits your needs! This is the option that I use because the closest store that sells healthy dog food is 45 minutes away. Now, Jesse's food is delivered to our door and we pay the same amount we did at the store (including shiping) and now we don't have to pay for the gas.

Meet my dog, Jesse. He is a rescue dog and was obviously neglected and very hungry. When we first got him, we fed him regular dog food because we didn't know any better. He had some apparent reactions to the corn that was in the foods. After doing some research, we found out about feeding him raw foods. We knew raw food was what humans needed, but hadn't put two and two together yet!

We started feeding him Sojo's Complete and The Honest Kitchen. We switched back and forth between the two but decided on Sojo's Complete because the chunks are bigger. We also give him "table scraps" - but our table scraps are healthy ones! When I am preparing our meal, I will toss him pieces of tomatoes, apples, carrots, the crunchy part of romaine lettuce, zucchini, red potatoes, sweet potatoes, and even kale and collard stems! He loves it all! We have even caught Jesse sneaking some compost while we are juicing and stealing veggies from our garden!!!

After switching Jesse to a raw food diet, all of his digestive issues went away! He is full of energy and the vet commented on how healthy his teeth and coat are. He loves to run and play and get out all of his energy. He is one healthy dog!

---

SOURCES:
http://www.vetinfo.com/dogs-eat-naturally.html
http://www.longliveyourdog.com/careguide/carebehavior/carebehaviorcanine/TheDietofWildDogs.aspx

Brussels Sprouts Salad

Ok, here is a new one for you: RAW Brussels Sprouts! Brussels Sprouts are one of those vegetables that most people cringe at the thought of. That is because most people cook them to death!

Brussels Sprouts are part of the cabbage family and contain sulfur compounds that become increasingly pungent the longer they are cooked. Overcooking causes them to lose their nutritional value and emit the unpleasant sulfur smell. Eating them raw allows you to benefit from the full nutritional value and avoid the stink bomb.

Another tip for tasty Brussels Sprouts is to chop off the ends and discard any leaves that easily fall off.

Adding even more to the tastiness of this salad is the knowledge of how healthy it is. Brussels Sprouts:

• are high in fiber
• help lower bad cholesterol
• are loaded with antioxidant ingredients such as Vitamins C, E and A and Manganese
• help fight inflammation in the body
• can aid in digestion, prevent constipation and maintain low blood sugar
• are high in Vitamin K which promotes healthy bones and is essential for proper brain and nerve function

Brussels Sprouts Salad

By Maddy Miller
Serves 6-8
 

6 cups Brussels’ sprouts, cut bottoms off, shred sprouts
¼ tsp Celtic sea salt
3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
¼ cup olive oil
½ lemon, squeezed
½ Tbsp black strap molasses
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 cup walnuts
¼ cup sunflower seeds
½ cup Vegenaise or more to taste
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard or more to taste
1 cup raisins

Mix together in a bowl.

Holiday Sweet Potato Slaw

Raw sweet potato? Who knew that you could eat raw sweet potato??? This sweet potato slaw is a delicious salad that everyone will enjoy! It is better than the best carrot salad you have ever eaten and even those who don't like sweet potatoes love this salad!

Let me tell you a story of a man who joined us for lunch one day. He had gone back for three helpings of this salad. He was loving it! After finishing off his third helping he started filling his plate with number four while telling us that this was "the best carrot salad I have ever eaten!" We politely told him that it was sweet potato, not carrot.

He looked at his wife with daggers in his eyes and said, "You know I hate sweet potatoes!!!" He then pushed his plate away and would not finish the dish that he so clearly enjoyed.

This goes to show the power of the mind. We need to look at raw food with an open mind and realize that foods we have disliked in the past can actually taste good! I hope this story has encouraged you to try this unique dish. You will not be disappointed!!!

Holiday Sweet Potato Slaw

3 cups sweet potatoes, raw
1 medium sweet apple
1 cup fresh pineapple tidbits
½ cup pecans, chopped
¼ cup organic raisins

Dressing:
½ cup Vegenaise
1-2 Tbsp raw unfiltered honey
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest

With the shredding blade, process sweet potatoes and apples in the food processor.

In a large bowl, combine sweet potatoes, apple, pineapple, raisins and pecans and set aside.

In a small bowl, combine the dressing ingredients and blend until smooth. Combine with salad ingredients and mix well.

Kale with Curry and Bruschetta

Kale is a powerhouse of nutrition. It can help to lower cholesterol, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, and is one of the healthiest vegetables there is. Check out the nutrient content in just one cup of kale!

Kale with Curry and Bruchetta is a tasty salad that makes it easy to enjoy this nutrient-packed vegetable. The key to making this salad delicious is in massaging the kale. You may think, "Massaging is for people not for food," but rubbing the dressing into the kale helps to break it down some and make it nice and tender.You want to rub deeply until the kale has shrunk to about half its original volume.

Another great benefit of this salad is that if you make too much, you can dehydrate the leftovers! Everyone is always looking for a healthy snack and this is a great one! Just put your leftover salad into a dehydrator (we use the Excalibur Dehydrator) at 105 degrees overnight. Check it in the morning and if it is crunchy it is done. If not, leave it in for a few more hours.

Kale with Curry and Bruschetta

By Sherry Orcutt
Serves: 6-8

Dressing:

2-3 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp. curry
1 Tbsp cumin
4 Medjool dates (remove pits)
½ cup olive oil
½ cup lemon juice
1 tsp. sea salt

3 bunches curly kale

Remove stems from kale and put in food processor. Chop until fine. Place in a bowl.

For dressing place garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, sea salt, cumin curry and dates in blender and blend until smooth. Pour dressing over greens massaging dressing into greens and marinate for two hours.

Bruchetta

2 large tomatoes, diced
½ cup fresh basil, chopped
2 medium cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp Splash
1 tsp Celtic Sea Salt

Toss all ingredients in a bowl until well mixed.

Add to salad just prior to serving and toss.

Avocado Reuben Sandwich

14-year-old Aaron Van Kirk created this appetizing sandwich to mimic the traditional Reuben sandwich. You would not believe how delightful it tastes. It is a hardy sandwich that satisfies even the largest of appetites.

At Hallelujah Acres, we recommend eating 85% raw and 15% cooked. Raw food is where we get our healing. Raw food has the living enzymes that our living body needs. Most of us are raised on 95-100% cooked foods so the cooked portion serves as our comfort food. Having foods that are similar to what we are familiar with is what helps us stick to eating right.

Aaron sets a great example for us all. No matter how much experience you have in the kitchen, YOU CAN DO THIS! Take some of your old favorites and convert them - just replace the unhealthy ingredients with healthy ones. You just have to have it set in your mind that you want to be healthy and you want to take care of your body (God's temple).

Avocado Reuben Sandwich

By Aaron Van Kirk
Serves 6

12 slices whole grain bread or whole grain rye
6 tsp Dijon Mustard
3 haas avocados, sliced
3 cups sauerkraut
1 small onion, very thinly sliced

Thousand Island Dressing:

¼ cup Veganaise
1/8 tsp onion powder
1 pinch garlic powder
4 tsp sugar-free ketchup
1 pinch sea salt
2 ¼ tsp sweet pickle relish (opt)

Mix well.

Preheat skilled to about 300º - 325º.

Spread one slice of bread with the mustard, the other with Thousand Island Dressing. Place them, dry side down, in a lightly oiled skillet. Top one slice with avocado, the other with sauerkraut and onions. Over medium heat, grill until slightly brown and hot – approximately 5 minutes. Put the sandwich halves together, slice on the diagnonal and enjoy!

Note: For a whopper sandwich, use 3 pieces of bread, spreading the one in the middle, both sides with mustard; the other slices with dressing. Use an entire avocado per sandwich.

Welcome to Our New Blog!

Welcome to our new blog! Our mission is to provide support and reach people, one by one, in our churches, and in our community to educate, empower, and encourage them to take control of their health and bodies by offering hope in place of despair, God's peace rather than fear, and to get in balance; body, mind and spirit. We hope to improve quality of life so we can fulfill God's purpose for our lives.

We will be posting recipes, articles, testimonies and more so check back often!