Guilt-free Pleasures

If I'm sounding totally incoherent it's because my brain has been thesis-fried for the day. Today's secret into the absolutely guiltless pleasures of the raw food diet: a Raw Banana Split.

1. Split a banana in half

2. Scoop three balls of raw ice cream onto it

3. Top with raw chocolate fudge

4. Sprinkle with candied walnuts

5. Top with raspberries

6. Eat without having any second thoughts about how you'll feel afterwards!

The ice cream recipes below only require that you blend them well in a Vitamix or food processor and place the mixture in your ice cream maker. All the ice creams make much more than you need for just one banana split, but who says that's a problem! Once the ingredients have been blended together, you want the mixture to look creamy, neither too liquidy nor too thick! (Also, agave nectar works instead of maple syrup if you're a purist)

Raw Vanilla Ice Cream

2 C of soaked cashews

3/4-1 C of water

1/2 C maple syrup (or 1/3 C if you don't want it quite as sweet)

1 whole vanilla bean pod + 1 tsp of vanilla extract

Raw Chocolate Ice Cream

2 C of soaked cashews

1 C water

1/2 C of maple syrup

1 vanilla pod

2 heaping tablespoons of cacao powder

dash of salt

Raw Raspberry Ice Cream

2 C of soaked cashews

3/4-1 C water

1/3 C maple syrup

1 C of raspberries (I had to use both frozen and fresh)

Raw Chocolate Fudge Sauce

A blend of cacao powder and agave nectar

(optional ingredients: vanilla extract, sea salt, a hint of carob powder)

Enjoy!