I Like it Raw

Having the perfect picnic potluck with a raw fruit treat.

My song, Your Song by Elton John is track number 94 on my in the shower compilation list, and I can belt it out like my sister, Elton John.  So the other morning, as my mental shuffle list landed on Your Song, I felt I could resonate with the line, I don’t have much money… because really I don’t.  I find my riches through other avenues, particularly my friends.  And now that I’m reasonably settled in, it was time for a little potluck with the girls from job #432.  And no, I don’t have a coffee table or couch, but instead I have a nouveau minimalist / dance floor / perfect picnic – type space to dine in.  Oh ya, now THAT’s big money.  And to celebrate these riches of mine, we decorated the place with candles and laid out the blankets.  Together, we laughed and gathered in the warmth of love and a little sexy food.

SEXY FRUIT WRAPS WITH CHILI CHOCOLATE SAUCE
Asian rice wraps
Fruit filling (sliced banana, mango & strawberries or avocado, strawberries and pear)
Sauce:
3 parts cacao nibs
1 part coconut oil
Honey to sweeten
Pinch cayenne
Pinch of sea salt

With warm water running, wet hard Asian rice wrap to soften. Lay flat on a cutting board and begin to fill wrap with fruit. Roll tightly and set aside.
In a small sauce pan, melt cacao nibs on medium to low temperature and add in coconut oil.  Toss in honey, cayenne and salt.  Drizzle over rice wraps or place in a bowl to use as a dip.

For the most part, this dish is raw.  During what’s been quite the heat wave here in the city, I’ve officially divorced my oven and will only use the top burners for special things…like chocolate.  This heat calls for cooling, lighter foods. Fried heavy foods will create acidity in our bodies, tax our liver and prevent the smooth flow of Qi (energy).  And if you’re like me, this extreme heat will make you feel irritable, sticky, swollen everywhere, and downright gross.  Times like these call for a little sexy food action. And yes, during the heat, I like it raw baby…

As I cleaned up the dishes once everyone filed out, I began to count my riches and what defines us; our spirit, not the size of our wallets, and the good people around us...especially our friends.
So to end the evening, I sang out at the top of my lungs, enough for my neighbours to hate me, and to make Miss Elton John downright proud.