Of Course You Can Have the Recipe! Raw Tahini Dressing

Several people have been asking for the recipe for a raw tahini dressing I love to put on salads and greens, especially kale, and have made for a few parties recently. Other than just tossing a salad with a bit of apple cider vinegar, oil, salt and pepper, tahini-dressing is my go-to.
And its super easy!
I find my raw tahini in the refrigerated section of my health food store, but there are several brands in jars that you can find, typically with the nut butters. I've gotten raw tahini at Whole Foods, too, but regular grocery stores tend not to have it.
It's especially delicious with finely chopped kale, as I mentioned, although is also tasty with heartier greens for salads. I frequently make the dressing below, and use it on kale to make kale chips...even more yummy! If you don't have lemon, apple cider vinegar is a delicious substitute

So here's the recipe, which will dress a huge bowl of kale:
About 1/4 cup tahini
2-3 tablespoons olive oil (depending on how loose your tahini is...if it is on the more liquidy side, use less oil)
1-2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (or more or less to taste)
1/4-1/2 tsp sea salt
Plenty of black pepper, to taste

First, I whisk together the tahini and oil (with a fork in a small bowl), because adding the lemon first tends to make it clump up. Once the oil and tahini are combined, add lemon, salt & pepper, and you are set! Of course, adding other herbs and spices will make this even more delicious. Raw appétit!

Raw Reading for Beginners

The raw food dinner at Fresh Thymes Cafe the other night was a complete success! I had an amazing time sharing raw food with all of the diners - many enjoying it for their first time - and I think everyone loved it. On the menu was veggie flax flatbread topped with a sprouted chickpea puree, fennel dressed with orange zest & juice, and black olives; a delectable zucchini lasagna; and avocado semi-freddo pie, with hot (well, warm) fudge. Jen and Jane at Fresh Thymes were fabulous, as well, super helpful, and so wonderful to give me the opportunity to introduce some Delawareans to raw food at their restaurant. Thanks, too, to Kelly Housen at Spark, who featured the lasagna in this week's issue:
http://www.print2webcorp.com/news/DelawareOnline/Spark/20110119/p27.asp
Mark your calendars for the next raw food dinners at Fresh Thymes - February 23 and March 23 - and call soon for a reservation, at 302-656-2026. There are only a couple spaces left for February 23! And, beginning in February, stop by Fresh Thymes at lunch for raw food entrees on Thursdays, prepared by yours truly!
Several of the folks at the dinner asked me what I would recommend for raw food cookbooks for raw food newbies.
For cooking, Raw Food Made Easy by Jennifer Cornbleet is very simple and basic and offers great tips and recipes; Living on Live Food by Alissa Cohen is more extensive, and offers lots of encouraging advice. Victoria Boutenko's books are also a great basic start.
For reading on the theories behind raw food, Brian Clement's books offer more science and also anecdotes about his work at the Hippocrates Health Institute, while David Wolfe's books offer a lot for people interested in a more spiritual, environmental approach/basis for eating raw.

New Year, New Logo, Many Upcoming Events!

First of all, I love my new logo, created by my beautiful and talented cousin, Kelly Alfis! Great way to start 2011, with a new look! Thanks SO MUCH, Kel!

If you need a bit of a new look this year yourself...start by heading to Devon Esthetique in Chadds Ford, PA on Thursday, January 27 from 4pm-8pm. It's Devon's Anniversary Party, where fabulous vendors of in all areas of beauty, fashion and bodycare will show off their goods and services, offer samples and specials, topped off by drawings for great prizes! RSVP and get more info at http://www.devonesthetique.com/event/januaryevent.html. I'll be there with raw goodies, a recipe to take home, and a special offer...hope to see you!

The year for Raw Appetit LLC has gotten off to a good start, so far...the Raw Food Dinner at Fresh Thymes in Wilmington on January 19 is sold out! But there's a waiting list...and we've put another Raw Food Dinner on the calendar, for February 23! It will still be a 3-course meal, $40 per person, with Asian-inspired raw cuisine...yum! Join us at 6:30 pm that evening...call Fresh Thymes at 302-656-2026 for a reservation! I'm also going to begin serving up raw food entrees for lunch at RAW FOOD THURSDAYS at Fresh Thymes in February. Details to come!

Happy New Year!

It's a new year, and what better way to meet your resolutions to lose weight or be healthier than including more raw food in your life!

There's been a great response so far to the three-course, gourmet raw dinner at Fresh Thymes in Wilmington on January 19. If you haven't made your reservation yet, call Fresh Thymes now!

I'll be talking a little bit about how raw food can benefit your health...and serving up tempting appetizers, a phenomenal pine nut and zucchini lasagna, and a decadent - yet guilt free! - dessert. This dinner is perfect for folks with allergies - most raw food is naturally free of gluten, eggs, dairy, etc. - vegetarians, vegans, and anyone looking to try something new! If you already love raw food, think about how awesome it will be to go to a restaurant, be able to eat everything on the menu, and enjoy a meal that tastes incredible, and makes you feel GREAT! More info below...

Also, mark your calendar for the afternoon/evening of January 27...I'll be showcasing some raw food treats at an event at Devon Esthetique in Chadds Ford, PA from 4pm-8pm, with some great other purveyors of jewelry, clothing, and beauty treatments...it will be one-stop shopping for a fabulous new you in the new year! More details to come!

****For the dinner on January 19, Call Fresh Thymes at 302-656-2026 to make your reservation, as space is VERY limited.****

$40 per person

Wednesday, January 19
6:30 pm
Fresh Thymes Cafe
1836 N. Lovering (Lincoln & Lovering)
Wilmington, DE

Email me at angelasalvucci@hotmail.com with any questions!