RAWvolution: Gourmet Living Cuisine

by Matt Amsden

Overview

Following a vegan, raw foods diet does not mean you have to give up your favorite delicacies or condemn yourself to a life of celery and carrot sticks. As renowned raw foods chef Matt Amsden reveals in this vibrant, inspiring book, raw cuisine represents the discovery and innovative use of luscious natural ingredients. From imaginative new dishes such as cactus salad, onion bread, and spirulina pie, to tantalizing variations on everything from pizza, tacos, and cookies, to the signature "Big Matt with Cheese," Amsden's mouthwatering recipes feature soups, sauces, salads, appetizers, entrees, and even desserts.

More than a cookbook, RAWvolution is the indispensable, all-inclusive guide to the many powerful benefits of raw food. Beginning with his personal account of "How I Went Raw," Amsden shares essential advice, information, and encouragement for adopting a raw foods lifestyle. His delectable recipes are organized by type, level of difficulty, and what equipment, if any, is necessary in their creation. Accessible to both beginners and experienced cooks, RAWvolution addresses everyone from vegetarians who want to take the next step in natural cuisine, to those who simply want to diversify and improve their everyday diet.

There has never been a more important time to incorporate raw foods into your lifestyle. Raw, vegan cuisine is making news daily, providing healthy and nutritious alternatives that are changing lives. Best of all, raw food can be delicious. There is no need to sacrifice flavor for bland and boring "health" food. Enliven your senses and taste buds instead with rich, living cuisine.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780060843182
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/03/2006
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	7.38(w) x 9.12(h) x 0.81(d)

About the Author

Matt Amsden has quickly established himself as one of the premier raw food chefs in south-ern California and the world. Matt's company, RAWvolution, is the first of its kind, delivering gourmet raw food meals throughout the United States. Originally from Ontario, Canada, Matt began eating a diet of 100 percent raw foods virtually overnight after hearing an interview with author/lecturer David Wolfe on the Howard Stern Show. Matt's desire to learn more about raw food preparation led him to Santa Monica, California, the heart of the raw food movement, where he soon began to share his talent with hundreds of people, including celebrities such as Margaret Cho, Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love, and Alicia Silverstone.

Read an Excerpt

RAWvolution

Gourmet Living Cuisine

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By Matt Amsden

HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Copyright © 2006 Matt Amsden
All right reserved.
ISBN: 0060843187

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Berry and Nut Breakfast Bar

Makes approximately 18 bars

A satisfying breakfast treat that combines the sweetness of berries with the heartiness of nuts.

Ingredients:

2 cups raw almonds
1 cup raw walnuts
¾ cup flax seeds
2 cups fresh strawberries, raspberries, and/or blueberries
1 cup raisins

Instructions:

Using a food processor, grind the almonds and walnuts coarsely, and then transfer the nuts to a large mixing bowl. Powder the flax seeds in a high-speed blender (or a spice or coffee grinder) and place in a small bowl. Liquefy the fresh berries in a blender, then add the flax powder to the blended berries and blend again. Add the resulting berry mixture to the ground nuts, along with the raisins, and mix well with a wooden spoon.

Spread the mixture evenly on a Teflex-lined dehydrator tray to a thickness of approximately 1 inch. Dehydrate at 100°F for 12 hours. Flip the tray over onto a work surface and gently peel the Teflex sheet off of the berry and nut mixture. Return the mixture to the dehydrator for another 12 hours. Once dehydrated, cut into 18 equal pieces (make 2 cuts horizontally, and 5 cuts vertically).

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Raw Chocolate Pudding

Serves 2

A thick and creamy coconut pudding flavored with real, raw chocolate. Finally, chocolate for breakfast--and it's healthy!

Ingredients:

Flesh of 5 Thai coconuts
¼ cup agave nectar
3 tablespoons carob powder
2 tablespoons cacao nibs or powder
2 tablespoons mesquite or lucuma powder
1 teaspoon coconut butter (sometimes called coconut oil) or cacao butter
Tiny seeds of 1 vanilla bean (optional)

Instructions:

In a high-speed blender, combine all of the ingredients and blend until thick and smooth. Transfer to a bowl.

Garnishes

Fresh strawberries, raspberries, and/or cacao nibs

Continues...

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Excerpted from RAWvolution by Matt Amsden Copyright © 2006 by Matt Amsden. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Editorial Reviews

It took just one radio show talk to convince Matt Amsden to become a raw-food advocate. Since then, he has been spreading the word and tasty vegan meals with his RAWvolution meal delivery company, his Santa Monica café, and now this book. RAWvolution: Gourmet Living Cuisine blends 80 tasty recipes with information about nutritional and preventive health advantages of a raw, vegan diet.