Transitioning to Raw Part V

Dehydrated Mushroom Burger

The next step in my transition last year was to finally break down and buy a dehydrator. I really wanted to be able to dry my raw nuts after having soaked them as directed. And the thought of making raw cookies and raw crackers was very enticing. I am so glad that I made the investment. I purchased the 5-tray Excalibur. I have used it a great deal and couldn't imagine not having one; it makes living this lifestyle a breeze. I can have everything I need on hand and whip up any recipe I desire. There are so many things I have yet to make in the dehydrator that I don't think I'll ever get bored with recipes.

I've mentioned before how much I love Lisa's blog, Raw on $10 a Day (or Less!) and here is her mushroom burger recipe. I think it turned out great! The batch I made gave me 4 burgers. I put too many red pepper flakes in so mine were on the spicy side. I ate mine on a bed of organic spinach and then smothered it with slightly dehydrated mushroom slices, creamy tomato dressing and of course sprouts as a side dish. Yummy in my tummy! Check out Lisa's recipe here:

Mushroom Burgers

I mentioned crackers. I really didn't get 100% inspired to make crackers in the dehydrator until I saw this video on The Renegade Health Show. It shows The Krazy Kracker Lady making her famous crackers, chips and cookies. Check it out! I am going to try her recipes out this year, that is for sure! I just know my children would love them.
Yesterday I did it, I made Abeba's BBQ chips and her "popcorn". The popcorn is coated and dehydrated cauliflower. I really enjoyed both recipes and they were very easy. The hardest part was waiting for them to dehydrate. I used leftover vegetable pulp from a green juice I made consisting of: radish tops, baby spinach, carrots, and Bosc pear. I put the pulp into the blender along with water, a handful of soaked raisins, Tamari, 1 large Ugly Ripe Tomato, 2 stalks of celery, cumin, garlic powder and chili powder. I blended it to the consistency that Abeba shows on her video and made the chips. I took some reserved "batter" and added some nutritional yeast and sea salt to it, then coated tiny florets of cauliflower to make the "popcorn".

Here are two recipes I am going to try next:

Dehydrated Raw Food Recipes

From DehydratorBook

Sweet Potato Chips:
You will want to start by setting your dehydrator to one hundred and five degrees Fahrenheit. Then:
Take 3 medium sized sweet potatoes and wash, peel, and then slice them


Place all of the potato slices that you can easily fit on the mesh screen


Place the mesh screen into the dehydrator


If you desire you can salt to taste


Dehydrate for five hours or until crunch and then enjoy


Mango Wrappers:
This is that "something different" for those who do not eat tortilla shells and who want something a little different than the lettuce wrap. This particular recipe is to serve four people. Adjust accordingly to the number of people you will be serving.
Ingredients
4 cups of fresh mango chopped


2 cups of young and fresh coconut


1 pinch of some sea salt


1 pinch of some cayenne


1/4 cup of roughly chopped cilantro


Directions
Mix all ingredients except for the cilantro in a large container making sure that it is smooth


Spread the smooth mixture on top of Teflex sheets and then sprinkle with a little cilantro


Dehydrate at 105 for about four hours


Sheets of mango wrap should be dry but pliable when it is done


Cut into squares and fill with your favorites.

There are so many possibilities when it comes to the dehydrator and I feel it really took me to the next level. It opened me up to so many new recipes and taste experiences.

The next investment in my journey is the high powered blender; you know what I'm talking about. I am still a bit apprehensive but I know that I will be really, really happy with one. I am considering waiting until I return from my Raw Chef certification course. Yes I said Raw Chef classes!!! I am soooo excited to make the trip to Michigan with my sister-in-law and do an intensive weekend course on raw living foods. I will blog more about that as it approaches. We both are just so excited to do this together and get our Basic Certification. Plus it is a great excuse to get away for the weekend and have some fun together preparing raw living food recipes.
+JMJ+Today I am grateful for my dehydrator. We woke up this morning to some cold weather and coming down to the kitchen to find some warm and yummy dehydrated treats was wonderful!