Happy Fall!

It's official, my favorite season is here! Here is how we are celebrating the change of weather.

We decorated the house...










The boy and I made granola yesterday to enjoy for breakfast this morning...







Raw Pumpkin Spice Granola
this makes a fairly small batch, will be doubling next time

1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup buckwheat
1/4 rounded cup raw sunflower seeds
1/4 rounded cup whole raw almonds
1/4 scant cup flax seeds

1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 small chopped apple, optional

Put all of the dry ingredients into a food processor (you could use a hand chopper if you don't have a processor). Pulse a few times, until you reach desired chunkiness. Wisk wet ingredients together in a large bowl. Add dry ingredients and chopped apple, mix well. Lay granola out onto dehydrator trays lined with wax paper. Dehydrate for a couple hours, stir, dehydrate a couple more hours. Store in an airtight container.

I hate to brag, but this granola turned out amazing. It has won the title for the best granola I've ever had!


We made a perfect fall breakfast...





Pumpkin Peanut Butter Fall Oats

3/4 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup Bob's Red Mill 8 grain cereal
2 cups water
1 banana, sliced
1/4-1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
couple glugs of maple syrup
2 tbsp peanut butter, soft
pumpkin spice granola, recipe above

Combine oats, cereal, water and banana. Bring to a simmer and let cook for 5-7 minutes. Add pumpkin and let it heat through. Add maple syrup, stir. Put into bowls and garnish with peanut butter and granola.


We spent the afternoon outside cleaning up the garden...






We had a fun day cozying up the house, reading seasonal books, and playing outside in the gorgeous weather. The day ended with a simple, warming dinner....



Roasted red potatoes, carrots and brussels sprouts. Served alongside some quinoa cooked in fresh chicken broth.



Enjoy the colors, enjoy the weather, enjoy the smells, enjoy this fall season!

Rustic Raw Apple Pie

Rustic Raw Apple Pie
recipe adapted from Raw Food

Crust:
1 1/4 cup almonds (I used a mixture of almonds and walnuts)
1 tbsp coconut oil, melted
5 dates, pitted
pinch of nutmeg
1-2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp honey or maple syrup


Filling:
1 large or 2 small apples, cored and skin on
1 banana
2 dates, pitted
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice


Garnish:
2 or 3 apples, slices thin
nutmeg


1. Finely chop the nuts in a food processor.
2. Add the oil, dates, and spices. Mix
3. Add the honey, and mix to form a dough.
4. Spread the dough out in your pie dish.
5. Puree your filling ingredients in a blender. Pour into pie crust.
6. Top with apples and a pinch of nutmeg.
7. Dehydrate at 105 degrees for a couple hours, until it's warm and the apples soften. This is optional, but it makes the pie warm and cozy, just like it should be.

Raw Strawberry Pie

Raw Strawberry Pie
recipe from A World of Wisdom


Crust:
1 cup almonds (I used almond meal from Trader Joes)
1 cup soft, pitted dates
1/2 tsp vanilla

Grind in a blender or food processor. Press into the pie plate.

Filling:
7-8 large strawberries
5 pitted, soft dates
2 bananas
1 tbsp lemon juice

Combine all ingredients in the blender and pour into pie shell. Decorate with additional strawberries and chill.