Spring-a-Dilly Asparagus Salad

 

Springtime is all about dill and asparagus for me. Dill and lemon juice taste so fresh together, and as soon as I see asparagus in the markets, I know that the seasons are changing and warming up. I love the combo of honey mustard & lemon combination, and the dill just take it over the top.

Also, a note on chopped salads…many of us use greens for our salads (as do I) but to kick it up a notch, sometimes I just cube and mix various veggies together and that hits the spot in another fun way. This recipe is an example of just that…an explosion of textures and flavors in your mouth. Enjoy!

Combine the following dressing ingredients together in a bowl: 

2 tablespoons honey mustard

3 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar or 2 tablespoons lemon juice (or to taste)

pinch of salt and a few pinches crushed black pepper

Mix the dressing ingredients together and taste for seasoning.

In the same dressing bowl, layer in:

½ cup halved cherry tomatoes

¾ cup cubed cucumbers

½ cup cubed red pepper

¾ cup chopped asparagus spears

1 tablespoon dill

Mix everything together and adjust the seasoning to your liking. This serves 2 as a side salad or one large salad for a very hungry person...Enjoy!

Raw Chocolate Berry Mousse

Is there anything better than chocolate mousse? I’d say yes ~ chocolate covered strawberries is a nice runner up. This recipe combines both of these tastes for an over-the top experience.

Due to the good fats, stevia, and low-sugar berries, this is also a nice low-glycemic, filling dessert (one might say, you may even try it for breakfast!)

1 cup fresh or defrosted strawberries (defrosted ones blend better)

1 dropper liquid stevia (or to taste)

2 heaping tablespoons raw cacao

½ avocado

Blend ingredients well until smooth.  Scoop out the contents in a bowl and mix in ¼ to ½ cup chopped strawberries (defrosted or fresh), and stir well. Garnish with shredded coconut.

Roasted Red Pepper Soup (raw)

One of my favorite soups in the world used to be cream of tomato soup or cream of red pepper soup, except that I wans’t as big of a fan of the cream, additives, and stabilizers/faux ingredients found in packaged boxes of soup. I realized that what I loved the most was the deep dark rich flavor of tomatoes or peppers, and seeked to make my own version of the soup.  This comes as close as I can remember to that delicious rich flavor. 

In a Vitamix, blend together:

½ red pepper, chopped

1 cup cucumber, chopped

¼ cup sweet onion, chopped

1 tomato, halved

½ avocado

½ cup sun dried tomatoes (no oil or sulfites)

salt, to taste

When everything is smooth (or more chunky, per your taste), add in ½ cup of fresh basil and pulse to incorporate (but not blend completely in the soup). Garnish with more avocado and shredded basil and enjoy!