cool creamy cucumber & herb soup

large English cucumber, half skinned & sliced
1 avocado, cubed- save 1/2 for adding in after blending
lime juice from a small lime
1/8 teaspoon cumin
3-5 large basil leaves
pinch of cilantro
few sprigs of dill
handful or parsley
Spike
1 small zucchini, shredded

blend the cucumber, half of the avocado cubes, the lime juice and all spices and herbs until creamy & smooth, add the rest of the avocado cubes and shredded zucchini to 2 bowls and pour the cucumber soup over, topping with a scoop of cashew cream if desired...

2 dressings and a dip walk into a salad bar...

Cashews, raw- soaked for about an hour in cold, filtered water

Put 1 cup cold filtered water in Vitamix.

Squeeze 1/2 lemon, 1/2 lime into water.

Add 2 teaspoons nutritional yeast, onion powder, crushed garlic

Start blender, add rinsed cashews slowly.

Blend until creamy and chunk free. Add thyme & chives for last 15 seconds.

1. "Ranch" Dressing: Pour one third of the mixture into a bowl, add a pinch of dill and squirt of mustard, and fresh cracked black pepper.

2. Creamy "Italian": Pour another third of the mixture int another bowl and add a handfull chopped basil and 2-3 Tablespoons diced sundried tomatoes (I like the smoked flavor).

3. Avocado Curry Dip: To the 1/3 left in the Vitamix add 1/2 and avocado and 3 Tablespoons gluten free curry powder.

Enjoy with your favorite vegetables, salads, rice crackers, fork, spoon or finger!

Citrus Curry Basil Dip

Fresh, organic, preferably-from-your-garden ingredients:
Served my family of 5, includes 2 toddlers.
1 c cashews- raw
1/2 c orange juice
1/4 c lemon juice
1/4 c lime juice
2 t nutritional yeast
2 t garlic powder
1 t curry powder (more or less to taste)
handful of fresh basil
COLD filtered water


One of the many variations on Cashew Cream, which I first tasted when going raw several years ago- yum!!

1. Put all ingredients except water in the Vitamix or a good food processor.
2. Pulverize.
3. Add a little COLD water.
4. Keep pulverizing (and scraping down the sides).
5. Repeat steps 2-4 until you have reached desired consistency.
6. Enjoy with your favorite veggie stick.

You can also make "cheese" (great stuffed in those small sweet peppers at Trader Joe's) by blending a little less and using less liquid.

Or you can make salad dressing by adding a little more water during blending.