Your whole food, plant-based life.

Raw Blackberry and Mango Almond Nut Pâté Salad

I am sitting in my kitchen, surrounded by furniture (that belongs in the family room) as carpet layers, window washers and air conditioning technicians swarm my house like it’s a hive. The dogs have been sent to “Auntie Jan’s” house for the day and the poor cats are locked in the courtyard so they will not escape out doors being left open for workers. It is happening again. Another move is underfoot.

 

Rawmazing Nut Pate Salad

 

Two years ago this May, I moved from my beloved Minnesota to the San Francisco Bay Area, and I couldn’t be happier. It is an enchanting place to live.

I am often asked why I moved…and I don’t talk about these things too often here as I don’t want to bore you with my personal life, but I will tell you that I moved for love.

And now it’s time to continue our journey in a new home way up “on the top of the world” with stunning views and a little piece of land for the pups to run and play on in the East Bay. It is going to be an adventure as we are embarking on an entire renovation of the new house, but it will be a lot of fun, too. The best part? I get to design a fully new kitchen from scratch. And it will be perfect for making videos for you. That is something I have been wanting to do for a long time.

If I followed the stars, I would think they would say it is a time of great positive change. Many things that seemed stuck are now moving quickly. Many plans that have been on the drawing board are on the verge of manifesting.

My focus is still mainly on raw, but I am incorporating  more whole food (non-processed) plant based (vegan) cooked food into our daily diet. I am working towards my “Professional Plant Based Chef Certification” through Rouxbe.com. I have always wanted to go to culinary school, but time constraints and being vegan were the two biggest stumbling blocks that prevented that. Rouxbe, an online cooking school offers a wonderful Professional Plant Based Certification course that I am loving.

This course, along with T. Collin Campbell’s “Plant Based Nutrition Certification” which I completed last year has been life changing. Not only has my understanding of a whole food plant based diet increased dramatically, my skills in creating recipes and preparing the food, both raw and cooked, has also increased. Even if you have already established a big knowledge base, there are always things to learn.  And these two courses were pivotal for me.

It is going to be a crazy few months around here but I promise to keep you in the loop and keep the recipes coming. And maybe even share a few before and after pictures!

Today’s recipe actually originated from an assignment that I needed to complete in the raw section of my Plant Based Certification. We started with a nut pâté base and were required to layer in ingredients. I loved this assignment because it is something we do almost on a daily basis with raw.

 

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21 Comments

  1. Ursula wrote on April 19, 2014

    Ahh I see the pint of blackberries. I must have missed that first time around. I can’t wait to try this! Your move and recent opportunities sound exciting and wonderful. What a blessing to be able to do what you love and are passionate about. Your site inspires me in so many ways…to be healthy and do what I love. I work in insurance which has afforded me many opportunities, even travel to India. But it’s not what I am passionate about. I am returning to college this fall and working on my health for me. Seeing this lovely, raw food keeps me thinking…. yes this is possible! Thanks!

    Reply
  2. Maja Lik wrote on April 19, 2014

    Dear Susan,

    I just want to tell you that all your recipes are awesome. I started to eat raw when I went to Thailand for my cancer treatment last year. I was vegan already but this just beat it.
    It was amazing how nice it tasted. So back home in the Kingdom of Bahrain I started to explore the net and made some of your cakes.
    Baking cakes was always my hobby and I really love cooking. It’s my hobby from when I was a young girl.So the cakes turned out sooo yummy. I had a lot of requests already from my patients (I am a Nutritionist/and a practitioner in Alternative Medicine). Maja why don’t you start a restaurant and it was very tempting. But now with the Raw food it is a full yes because I can also help people getting their health back not only with my treatment but also with the proper food. So by the end of the year I will have Majadora’s Raw Food Creations.
    And a big thank you to you for sharing the recipes and all the effort, time and love you put into it. I altered the sweet recipes a bit because cancer patients are not supposed to eat any sugars or very sweet fruits. And when I have time I will also share. my recipes.
    Very shortly I will order your books as well.
    Kind regards,

    Maya Lok

    Reply
  3. Sarah wrote on April 19, 2014

    You’ve got blackberries already? Wow, lucky you. I’ll have to wait until the autumn to get them here (unless I suppose they’ve been flown in from Australia…). Looks a really delicious recipe.

    Good luck with the renovations, Susan, sounds like you’re going to be very very busy but it’s a fantastic project. How can you design one dream kitchen though? I like so many different styles and I’m so indecisive it would be a nightmare trying to decide on The One!! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Alice wrote on April 19, 2014

    This looks really great Susan, and so easy to make. I can’t wait until you start doing videos and I’m sure this new house will be very inspiring for you. I also wish you much happiness in your new home and with your sweetie. No one deserves it more than you. Fixer-uppers can be a lot of fun, and also you can have some interesting surprises. All the best. Alice

    Reply
  5. Connie wrote on April 19, 2014

    Wow, what a great looking recipe! I’m definitely going to have to try this as soon as I can get to the farmer’s market to buy some blackberries! I am almost envious that your are getting to design your dream kitchen as that is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Oh well, I just have to be patient, I trust that it will happen in due time. Have fun redoing your house; it’s always a pleasure to find the place you are supposed to thrive in! God bless you as you face this transition!

    Reply
  6. Leigh wrote on April 18, 2014

    This looks so wonderful, I am looking forward to making this – a wonderful recipe.
    I too am vegan, mostly raw vegan, but I do enjoy a lovely cooked whole food once in a while, especially on those chilly evenings. I love ‘creamed’ carrot and ginger pureed soup. I will follow your lead as your recipes are wonderful. Thank you for your inspiration.

    Reply
  7. Elaine Lembo wrote on April 18, 2014

    Susan: This look delicious. The weather here is getting warmer so the recipe came at the right time. The farm stands are starting to open, meaning the fruit will be so much better. Thank you. Also I want to wish you great happiness with your move and house.

    Reply
    • Susan wrote on April 18, 2014

      Thank you so much, Elaine!

      Reply
  8. Colleen wrote on April 18, 2014

    Since I got re-educated by Dr. Robert Morese about the body and the need to de-acidify the body I have been eating 80% fruits. Mostly I eat them out of hand but for socializing with others it seems nicer to concoct something for other’s pleasure.

    You are contributing to a healthy trend and not everyone can be happy eating apples and lemons all day and need some encouragement to get their fruits and herbs; although for the life of me I can’t think of anything better to do with a melon or avocado, etc., than it eat it right out of hand. It did though take some re-training of the palate.

    I forwarded your recipe to my daughter who is transitioning from grains and starches to fruits and herbs. So, thank you for helping people get their loved ones to like their raw fruits and veggies.

    Reply
  9. Ursula wrote on April 18, 2014

    Hi Susan! This looks great. What is the measurement for the blackberries? Thanks!

    Reply

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