Simply Raw Potluck in January

We both prepared fantastic meals for the potluck. To reduce family competition (which is always fierce), mine was in the "main course" category, while my wife prepared a dessert.

Rice Bowl with Orange Sauce

Rice:

• Grate one whole cauliflower and set aside

Sauce:

• One whole orange - peeled
• 1 1/2 tsp chopped jalapeno 2-3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp raw sesame seeds
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1" piece of fresh ginger - peeled
• 6 tbsp nama shoyu (I've used 3tbsp of Tamari)
• 5 tbsp raw honey or raw agave
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste (or use dried papaya seeds instead)

Place all sauce ingredients in a high powered blender. Blend on high until liquefied, yet thick. Amount of jalapeno, ginger, and red pepper affects "warming effect" of this meal.

Veggies: (any combination you wish; I didn't use mushrooms not chili peppers)

• grated carrot
• sliced mushrooms
• finely chopped ancho chili pepper
• finely chopped red bell pepper
• snow peas - sliced in half
• green onions - cut into 1" pieces
• finely shredded kale or collards

Mix sauce in a bowl with prepared veggies. Spoon up a bowl of the shredded cauliflower and top with sauced veggies - garnish with additional raw sesame seeds, chopped green onion, or peppers.

Can also be used to make wraps (e.g. in collard or chard leaves).

Source: blog of Mattye Lee Thompson.
Sadly, I cannot find Mattye's Rice Bowl recipe anymore. My guess is it was so good that Mattye decides to save it for her upcoming book... Well, I wish her good luck! There are so many excellent and inspiring recipes on her blog, I am sure the book will be successful.

Poppyseed Pastry

Crust: 2 cups walnuts (soaked 4 hours and dehydrated), 5 dates (soaked), 1 tbsp organic orange peel, dash of salt
Topping: 2 cups poppy seeds, 2 cups raisins (soaked 20 min)

Garnish: goji berries

Instructions:

Place walnuts, dates, orange peel, salt in a food processor with S-blade and mix until they are crust like. Then firmly press into a pan pie and set aside.

For topping: blend raisins (I use meat grinder, but a food processor works as well) and grind poppy seeds in a coffee grinder. Mix together and put on the crust. All measures are approximate, don't be afraid to improvise!