January 24, 2010

Breakfast
Chocolate Spaghetti
1 serving ~ .$40 per serving
ingredients
1 banana ($.15)
1 tablespoon olive oil ($.10)
1 tablespoon agave ($.10)
1 teaspoon cacao or cocoa powder ($.05)
For each serving, grate or slice one banana. If slicing, make long thin strips that look like noodles. I used the food processor with the grating plate. Less ripe works better in this case. A very ripe banana would be too mushy.
In a small cup, whisk together the oil, agave, and cacao or cocoa powder. Arrange the (sticky!) banana noodles on a plate and top with the chocolate sauce. Sprinkle with a few crushed walnuts.

Lunch
Carrot Avocado Soup
2 servings ~ $1.69 per serving
ingredients
1 avocado, chopped ($.78)
4 carrots, peeled and chopped ($.40)
2 ribs celery, chopped ($.30)
1/2 medium onion, chopped ($.10)
1 clove garlic, pressed ($.05)
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons olive oil ($.40)
1 1/2 cups water for blending
1/2 medium tomato, finely chopped($1.25)
1 green onion, sliced ($.10)
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find so many things on sale this time of year. Citrus is being priced very well, greens are marked down, and our local store even had avocados at half price. Conventionally grown tomatoes, on the other hand, are outrageously expensive in my area now … $2.99 a pound, which is about $2.50 each. I admit, I was pretty excited about the 78 cent avocados.
This soup is more hearty than I expected … quite robust and satisfying, and super simple to make. Coarsely chop all the ingredients to make blending easier. In a blender, add everything but the tomato and scallion and teaspoon olive oil. Puree for a few to several minutes until very smooth. In some blenders, the soup will start to warm up a bit as it processes.
Garnish with chopped tomatoes and scallions, and drizzle with a bit of olive oil.
fat: 42 gr
carbs: 28 gr
protein: 5 gr

Dinner
Baby Greens with Clementines and “Honey” Mustard Dressing
serves 2 ~ $2.40 per serving
ingredients
1 8 oz bag baby greens ($2.99)
3 clementines, peeled and sectioned ($.75)
1/4 cup walnuts ($.25)
1/2 red onion, chopped ($.20)
2 tablespoons olive oil ($.20)
2 tablespoons agave ($.20)
2 tablespoons brown spicy mustard ($.20)
salt and pepper to taste
Lately, I just can’t get enough of greens and citrus together. This is a very simple salad that gave me a much needed reminder of spring.
To make the dressing, whisk together the olive oil, agave, and mustard. Toss with the baby greens, clementine sections, red onion, and walnuts.
fat: 24 gr
carbs: 28 gr
protein: 8 gr
Lime in the Coconut Tarts
8 tarts ~ $1.11 per serving
ingredients
6 dates ($3.00)
1/2 cup walnuts ($.50)
1/2 cup finely shredded coconut ($1.00)
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 tablespoons agave
pinch salt
2 avocados ($1.49)
3 bananas, dehydrated ($.45)
4 limes, juice and zest ($2.00)
4 tablespoons agave ($.40)
These are just insanely good. I really don’t think there’s a conventional dessert that could be any better tasting than these.
They certainly didn’t last long in these parts, although theoretically they can be covered and frozen for up to a week.
Make the crusts first. In a food processor with the “S” blade, process the dates until mush. Add the coconut, coconut oil, agave, and salt and process until it begins to clump. Last, add the walnuts and process until the walnuts are fully incorporated and the mixture sticks together.
I used paper cupcake cups and a cupcake pan … the paper lined pans seemed to make just about perfect sized tarts. Divide the crust mixture evenly into and press into the bottom and sides of eight paper lined cupcake cups. Put in the freezer for about a half hour, until firm.
For the filling, in the food processor with the “S” blade, process the avocados, bananas, lime juice and zest, and agave. It takes a minute or two, but this will become velvety smooth and the consistency of thick pudding.
A note about the dehydrated bananas … these need to be just dehydrated enough to take some of the moisture out but not hard. I dehydrated my gently for about 6 hours and that seemed to work out well.
Spoon the filling into the tart crusts and chill well before serving.
fat: 24 gr
carbs: 43 gr
protein: 3 gr
total carb: 147 gr
total protein: 17 gr
Love the chocolate spaghetti idea for chilren – you're a very creative grandmother 🙂 I've been away this weekend eating lots of cooked so can't wait to get home and try the carrot soup, salad and – of course – the tarts! Antony xoxo
I can't wait to try the carrot avocado soup and the baby green citrus salad! Awesome raw recipes and pictures! Thanks so much! 🙂
The banana spaghettie is right up my alley! My sweet tooth thanks you for this idea. Haha, I guess I eat like a 3 year old sometimes. Everything else looks delicious as well. I love the combination of lime and coconut.
What a great idea! the banana spaghetti!! and I can't wait to try the soup! Yummy! Thank you for the recipes.
XOXO.
I love your site-thanks so much for sharing!! You are so helpful for a girl just starting 100% raw looking for lower-cal and affordable menus. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! YOU are so appreciated!! 🙂
I love the chocolate spaghetti idea! I'm loving all your dessert ideas, in fact.
antony, out of the mouths of babes (oh i love being a grandma) … are you getting settled back into raw now that you're home? 🙂 … xoxo
rawsierra … thanks so much for stopping by … i've been over to your blog and it's lovely, so nice to meet you 🙂
nikki, eating like a 3 yo is fun 🙂
hey anon, welcome to raw & glad you find this helpful 🙂
I just came across your blog – I'm transitioning to Raw and on a budget – your blog is going to be a wonderful resource!!
Chocolate spaghetti? That's brilliant. You're definitely speaking my language.
I absolutely love the concept of your blog… it's great to show people that raw can be done on a budget! I'm trying to rein in my tendencies to buy overpriced raw treats, and stick with the less expensive basics.
The lime tarts look amazing! I love the idea of using bananas a sweetener/binder.
Wow your blog is deliciously insightful! I want to try all of your recipes, especially your lime tarts! I love how you write down the price of your ingredients as well, which is something I like to do to see just how much I'm spending on food.
I really love your blog, I'll be adding it to my healthy-vegan site's blogroll.
Those tarts look amazing!
Everything looks yummy, especially when chocolate is for breakfast!
I am so glad I found your site! I am looking to go raw but just eliminated all processed foods, etc out of my diet…thank you for the effort you put into this!
Lisa, i LOVE the banana spaghetti! Wow, what a great idea. I bet she loved it!
Just made the lime-coconut tarts. They were dangerously good (I'll definitely end up eating too many!)… just wanted to say thanks.
Also, I love your blog.
These look delicious and tasty. Great that it's got the calorie math on it too.