Family Bonding In The Kitchen. Raw Strawberry Pie.

Raw Strawberry Pie

If you don't need a dessert right away and have some time to make it, you'll really like this pie. The reasons we liked making this pie: (1) it only takes a handful of ingredients to make (2) it's healthy for you, (3) it tastes yummy and (4) makes you look like a pro even if you're not. This was our first time making this pie. I read the directions and helped a little with the crust but my daughter Hannah (9) did all the rest! You can do it too!

We use cooking or baking as a time to bond as a family and to teach measurements, how to follow directions, health, and self confidence. Kitchen time doubles as date time in our family. Let your children help. Even toddlers can pour ingredients into the food processor or blender and push the button. As parents it's hard to sometimes slow down long enough to teach, but I guarantee you and your children will be so thankful you did! Happy Family Bonding In The Kitchen Time!

All You'll Need!

See doesn't that look simple?

Almond-Date Crust:

1 1/4 Cups Soaked Almonds (8-12 hrs)

1 C Dates, Chopped

1 TBSP Water

1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Dash of Cinnamon

2 tsp. Flax Meal

Soak those almonds the night before so you're not waiting on them.

Put 6 Pitted Dates in Water 4-8 hrs. before you begin.

That's the hardest part, thinking ahead. You can do this, hang in there!

OK, LET'S GET STARTED!

Dry your soaked almonds for 30-60 min. in sun or dehydrator

or just with a paper towel.

Chop nuts until they are evenly ground.

Add 1 Cup chopped dates, process until finely ground.

We actually put them in whole and soaked them.

I would not recommend this cause it makes the crust a little soggy. Keep them dry.

Add Water, Vanilla, and Cinnamon while processing.

Crust must appear slightly damp, and hold together before adding flax meal.

Add Flax Meal.

Press in pie pan immediately.

Dehydrate crust for 1 hr. or leave in sun for 1-2 hrs.

or in oven on "warm" for 20 min. or you can use crust immediately.

You're done with the crust! Good Job!

Filling:

4 Cups Strawberries, sliced

Binder:

6 Pitted Dates, soaked 4-8 hrs (less in you don't have time)

Reserve the Date Soak Water (from yep, the soaked dates)

2 Cups Strawberries, quartered

Maple Syrup or Date Sugar or Stevia, to taste (optional)

Slice 4 Cups Strawberries and Quarter 2 Cups Strawberries

or just slice 6 Cups and call it good.

Spoon 4 Cups Sliced Strawberries into Crust.

Now let's make the Binder.

Put 2 Cups Quartered Strawberries into blender.

Add the 6 Soaked Dates.

Process until you have a thick puree.

Add Date Soak Water if needed (we didn't). Sweeten if you need (we didn't).

The puree was tart without sweetener, but the crust balanced it as the crust was pretty sweet.

Pour Binder on top of Sliced Strawberry Filling.

With a spatula make sure the Binder gets in all the cracks around the strawberries.

Look at how pretty it is.

Now put it in the refrigerator for 1 hour before serving

or for a frozen dessert, put in the freezer.

Enjoy!!!

You can add a cashew-date fluff topping but we ate it like this! YUM!

You can find the recipe for the topping in The Raw Gourmet on Pg 177.