Lemon Cream Pie with Chocolate Crust

Crust

1 1/2 C raw pecans
1/3 C cocoa powder
Tbs coconut oil
2-3 tbs raw agave

Process/blend to a sticky dough. Press into parchment lined springform pain and place in freezer.

Filling

3 C raw cashews soaked in water 20 mins and rinsed.
Juice of 3-4 lemons
10 drops stevia
Tsp vanilla
1/2 C coconut water. I use the leftover from a full fat can of coconut water. Refrigerate overnight so the cream rises to the top. Drizzle the water slowly into the blending lemon cream to achieve the desired consistency. Save the coconut cream in fridge for the whipped topping.

Spread evenly over crust and refrigerate or freeze to set.

Thaw before serving and top with coconut whipped cream.

Coconut whipped cream

1-2 cans of full fat coconut milk
Tsp vanilla
5 drops of stevia or 1 tsp agave

Refrigerate coconut milk overnight. Spoon the cream that rises to the top into a chilled bowl. Whip until fluffy.

Simplicity

As you begin your journey into detox and weight-loss you will notice your tastes becoming simpler. You will begin to revel in each luscious bite of a strawberry or a crisp refreshing salad.

As I’ve said, I don’t have a lot of time to fuss over meals, which is perfect for detox anyway. Simplicity in your dishes and your menus is best for digestion and elimination. It also means freedom from the kitchen, fast foods and spending money on things that make you sick.

I began one day this week with a lovely green juice of spinach, kale, parsley, apple and lemon while sitting on the beach before work.

On my way to work I sipped this lovely “Goddess of Greens” while I grabbed a bit of fresh ocean air (yes I know I’m lucky)

At work I had one of my usual delicious salads with lemon.

Greens, beets, carrots, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado and lemon juice.

At home after work my dinner was equally luscious and easy, a salad with corn, bell, pepper tomato, olives and lemon with a little taco seasoning for a little added zing.

After this refreshing salad I had an eggplant that I halved, scored, topped with butter ( yes! butter), taco seasoning and baked for an hour at 375 while enjoying my salad and a glass of wine. Scrape the cooked eggplant out of the skin and squeeze a little lemon juice. Yum.

As I have said before, cooked oils should be eventually eliminated from your diet. All oils except for coconut oil change their molecular structure at high heat and become rancid. Therefore they are indigestible and toxic to the system. Butter on the other hand, does not change with high heat and is completely digestible and recognized as food by the body. Of course it is not one of our desirable plant-based fats so should only be enjoyed occasionally and in small quantities.

Dining Out (oops, who said I was perfect anyway)

One of the great things about this lifestyle is the ease in which you can fit it into a normal day. You can still enjoy sumptuous meals out with your friends. The Outback has a seared ahi on a bed of greens and cucumber with a mixture of 2 dressings. I always order it without the crispy wontons (starch) and the dressing on the side. I usually just squeeze some lemon over the whole thing, but sometimes I eat a tiny bit of their dressing. Occasionally I will substitute the ahi with their grilled Norwegian salmon, like I did last night. Add a glass of wine and not only do you have a well-combined protein meal but a real treat as well

But, if the kitchen messes up your order and gives you a free dessert, like their Thunder from Down Under, you might not be strong enough to refuse. Oh well, who said I was perfect anyway. Thank goodness I had someone to share it with. If you were to eat just the ice cream, whipped cream, the chocolate shavings and sauce, you would still have a pretty good protein meal, but add the brownie and uh oh.

The really great thing about this lifestyle though, is that is isn’t just a temporary diet, it really is a lifestyle. One thing I have learned living like this is not to be so hard on myself. It isn’t about perfection. It is about progress and transitioning and learning not to be in a hurry. I do so well most of the time that an occasional boo boo isn’t a huge setback. It no longer sends me into a downward spiral of bingeing on anything in sight for days, into weeks and then you wake up and 3 years have gone by . I knew I would wake up this morning to my rebounding and yoga and drink my juice for lunch and not miss a beat.

A Daily Routine

As any long time dieter, knows: DIETS DON’T WORK! Not long term anyway. Yes you might lose a few pounds, but if you don’t change your habits, you will gain it back and more.

That is why this is not a diet. It is a lifestyle. and if you are going to change your lifestyle the first thing to do is develop new habits. The foundation and number one habit of this lifestyle is your daily green juice.

This one isn’t only delicious, it is easy and affordable.

This recipe makes 28 to 32 ounces of luscious green juice for $2.75

Recipe:

5 oz kale

1 lb carrots

1 lb celery

1 small lemon

Juice, strain and enjoy the high vibrations of this elixer