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BLUEBERRY AND CREAM LAYER BIRTHDAY CAKE

Posted by 2 · September 09, 2012

I love birthdays. Love it when people are proud to announce their age, love to see others wholeheartedly celebrate the day they were born, love it that I was brought up in a family where birthdays are a big deal, love the anticipation of birthdays and the celebrations that continue for an entire month starting on September 4th for me!

I'm so incredibly grateful for this life, so why be modest and hold back on announcing the day you got the opportunity to come into it, right? 100% right! High five to that! I'm clapping now. You try high-fiving yourself :))

This year is also a little extra special for me. You see, I have a bit of a fascination with the number 28 and that is how old I've just turned. I've always had the strongest feeling, that this year whenever it comes will somehow be even more amazing than the previous 28 and I trust my intuition big time.

All I can say is it hasn't even been a week and already amazing things are happening for me... for instance I've employed my first ever project management assistant!!! It is only part time for now, but it's a big leap and Michelle is an absolute gem. Very blessed to work with her and will be updating you on our progress later.

For now, it's all about the cake. THEE CAKE. Of all the cakes I've ever made, this one takes the biscuit. And it so happened that this one was my very own birthday cake, made by yours truly.

BLUEBERRY AND CREAM LAYER CAKE

(serves 16)

For the essentials

9 inch cake tin

blender

food processor

For the base

2 cups brazil nuts

2 cups dates, pitted

1/4 tsp Himalayan salt

For the cream layer

4 cups cashews, soaked 4-8 hours and rinsed

juice of 2 lemons

1 cup cacao butter, gently melted

3 tbsp coconut oil, gently melted

1/2 cup agave nectar

1 banana, peeled

2 vanilla pods, seed scrapings only

2 tsp vanilla bean extract

1/4 tsp Himalayan salt

For the blueberry layer

4 cups blueberries

1,5 cup dates, pitted

4 tbsp coconut oil, gently melted

zest of 2 oranges

2 tbsp chia seeds

1/4 tsp Himalayan sea salt

optional: 2 tbsp strawberry powder

-Prepare the base of the cake by first processing the nuts using an S-blade in your food processor. Add dates and salt, then process again until everything is broken down evenly. Transfer the mixture to a cake tin and press it down using your first, until you create an even base.

-Prepare the cream layer by blending all the ingredients using a tamper or pulse function. Blend until smooth. Using the measuring on the side of your blender as reference, note how much cream is in there now and divide by 2 to calculate how much half of it would be. Pour cream into the cake tin until the amount remaining in blender is down to half. Transfer the cake to set in a freezer while making the next layer. If you only have one blender jug, transfer the remaining cream into a bowl and keep at room temperature to avoid premature setting.

-Prepare the blueberry layer by blending together all ingredients, except the chia seeds (make sure to leave them aside until last minute, otherwise the mixture will set too early). Transfer half the blueberry mix into a bowl, quickly mix in half of chia seeds (1 tablespoon) and pour the mixture over the set cream layer. Transfer to the freezer for 5 minutes.

-Pour the remaining half of vanilla cream into the cake, briskly sliding the tin from side to side on your kitchen top to make sure the cream spreads in a nice even layer. Transfer to the freezer for 10-15 minutes or until semi set, so that it is strong enough to hold up the final layer. Make sure to keep stirring the remaining blueberry mixture every five minutes, so it doesn't set in it's bowl. Add the the last tablespoon of chia seeds, stir well and spread it over the cake with a spatula. Transfer to the fridge and store in the fridge too, where it should last for unto 7 days.

One of my 'month long celebration' activities this year has been attending a Secret Cinema event with the girls. Here are a few images from the most hilarious and fun night, which was themed 'Back To School Carnival- Grease the movie'...

And just one more snap of the cake. She's just too purdy not to...

6 comments

28 DAYS OF ALKALISING GIVE-AWAYS

Posted by 2 · August 31, 2012

EXCITEMENT ALERT! September 10th will be the start of the most awesome, fun and biggest give-away challenge ever seen on Better Raw, and quite possibly in all of the raw food multiverse!

Every day for 28 business days, I'm giving away prizes, that will blow your mind, ground you and make you more alkaline, all at the same time!

What in the name of Superman has possessed me to do such awesomeness? Well I will give you three pretty good reasons for this:

1. I go kinda gooey caramel for the digits themselves- '2' because that's already a team; '8' because it's not just a number, it's symbol of infinity. 28 is the number of days it takes to form an unbreakable habit. I'm turning 28 this September and a gal's gotta celebrate!

2. There are just too many companies that I want to introduce to you, any less than 28 doesn't quite feel right. I hand picked each one myself, as I love, use and genuinely recommend each of the services and goodies which will be revealed to you daily.

3. In November (date to be revealed), I'll be launching my online program '28 Days to Acid-Alkaline Breakthrough'. I'm getting predictable here, I know. The AAB online course will give you access to MP3 recordings, charts, worksheets and daily tips to dramatically increase your pH levels from acid to neutral, so you can unleash your body's potential to heal and feel permanently and outrageously healthy. Yeah!

How it works:

From Monday 10th Sept until Wednesday 17th Oct- there will be a brand new exciting prize revealed every single working day (that’s 28 days!).
You’ll have just 24 hours to complete a mini challenge for that day’s prize. Winners will be announced the very next day.
If you are here for the first time, click on the most recently revealed image below to learn more about today’s prize and how you can win it.
To never miss a day’s challenge, click here to register your email address. You will receive a fun daily note delivered straight to your inbox with a newly revealed prize.

Get the surprise daily announcement (I know you- there's AT LEAST one day you'd definitely not want to miss), register now>>

DAY 1: Alkalising pack DAY 2: 5 x magazines &

from The Nutri Centre barley grass from Funky Raw

RRP £33.15 (US$53) RRP £11.45 (US$18) each

DAY 3: Living raw DAY 4: 50min Health Coaching DAY 5: Ceramild Ionic Head

breads from Pura Vida with Pauline Hanuise x 4 from Alive Water UK

RRP £22.50 (US$36) VALUE £48 (AUD$75) each RRP £147 (US$238)

DAY 6: pH strips from DAY 7: Brownie collection

SimplexHealth x 4 from Gourmet Raw

RRP £8.99 (US$14.50) RRP £9.95 (US$16)

DAY 8: Younger You book DAY 9: Superfood Pack DAY 10: Sensitive Skinfood

from The Nutri Centre x 5 from Detox Your World kit from Bare Skin Beauty

RRP £5.99 (US$10) each RRP £37 (US$60) RRP £61 (US$100)

DAY 11: Amatsu Therapy DAY 12: Raw Protein Formula

with Lorna Clansey from Purple Balance x 2

RRP £110 (London only) RRP £29 (US$47) ea

DAY 13: MP3 Lectures by DAY 14: Choc Mulberries DAY 15: Raw Food Coaching

by The Raw Food Scientist from The Raw Chocolate Co with Girl of Raw

RRP £45 (US$73) RRP £5 (US$8) x 5 Value US $800.00

DAY 16: Pair UC Love bracelets DAY 17: Universal nut milk
from Universe+Chorus x 3 bag from Living Milk x3
RRP £15.50 (US$24) both RRP £10 (US$16) ea

DAY 18: Active Energy System DAY 19: A choice of treatment DAY 20: Raw Snack Box
with Adam Shaw from Platinum Health Services from Rawgeous
RRP £147 (US $237) Value £60 (London only) x 2 RRP £45 (US$73)

DAY 21: Soapnut Starter Pack DAY 22: Notecards or Design
from LivingNaturally x 3 work by Natasha Bu
RRP £16.50 (US$26.50) RRP £8($13) & £60($96)

DAY 23: 2 Large Juices at DAY 24: eBooks by DAY 25: 4 litres Aloe Vera Gel
Neil's Yard's Wild Juicery Better Raw x 3 drink from Forever Living x3
RRP £13.60 (London only) RRP £15 (US$24) ea RRP £83 (US$133) each winner

DAY 26: Kale Chips DAY 27: BE Green Smoothie Detox
from InSpiral x 4 from Tera Warner x 3
RRP £8 (US$13) ea RRP £91.00 (US $147) ea

DAY 28: Submit a smoothie photo

to win a VITAMIX (UK only)
RRP £459.00

Never miss a day of give-away announcements! Enter your details here and be the first to know what insane alkalising prizes are up for grabs daily>>

[Note the competition is open to any one worldwide, unless clearly stated on the day of the prize]

54 comments

SHAKESPEARE IS HOME! CHOCOLATE TORTOISE CAKE (RECIPE TUTORIAL)

Posted by 2 · August 15, 2012

Some of you guys might recall this post from two years ago when I introduced you to the happiest and most peaceful animal I've ever known.

At that time of course I was pretty certain it was a boy, hence the 'he that, he this' descriptions, but it turns out Shakespeare the tortoise is in fact a lady. You can start to tell their gender around the age of three and Shakie is now a big three year old madam.

If you follow my updates on Facebook, you might known that Shakespeare went missing 3,5 months ago from the garden. It's not a huge place, but we go get cats, birds, squirrels and foxes visiting, so anything could've happened really. But I've always known she's OK. I don't know how, but intuition is something you should just trust, not explain.

And then we see this on our neighbours' fence:

I could've sworn I stopped breathing right until the moment they got home! It turned out that they discovered little Shakes in their garden a couple of weeks earlier and took her to a near-by Vet, because that's what the tortoise forums said to do. Interestingly enough (because the universe is that amazing), there is just a handful of Vets in London who look after tortoises and one of them had to be right around the corner from us!

I ran there like Usain Bolt. Not because it was 100m away (it was further), but because it was the fastest I've ever run!

They were a little on the weary side (probably because I looked so desperately dodgy) and asked I come back with certification, photos, and any other proof that Shakespeare belongs to me. BUT when I asked to see Shakes and she nearly climbed out of her shell to rub noses with me and twitching ecstatically, no one could argue who the mummy is supposed to be.

Our happy reunion when I could finally get her home after a course of injections:

Happy times. Grateful times. So I got on to creating a little thank you to my new best friends next door and decided to take snaps along the way to humour you too...

CHOCOLATE TORTOISE CAKE

It is in four parts:

1. Raw chocolate fudge for the body parts.

2. Raw brownie for the shell (base only, no icing).

3. Cashew frosting with barley grass powder for the grass.

4. Raw chocolates for the shell shapes.

1). Begin by making raw chocolates for the tortoise shell shapes. I used my dark chocolate recipe with an added tablespoon of coconut oil for a milky taste. Fill the moulds only half way, so you won't get a weird chunky looking shell later. Leave to set in the fridge.

2). Start making the cashew icing in a blender. Add a teaspoon of barley powder for a green colour at the end and blend again. You can also use any other green powders, like spirulina or chlorella, but watch the amount, as the taste can be super strong.

3). For the platform of my tortoise cake, I used a 9 inch cake tin base. Fill a piping bag with the green icing and choose a nozzle with rugged edges, so it can resemble grass as much as possible. Cover the base, leaving the middle bare since you won't see that part. Refrigerate to set.

4). Next stage is making the body parts. I used my chocolate fudge recipe from 'Festive- The Best Raw Food Christmas Recipes'. It is one that always turns out perfectly pliable and works just like play-doh to shape in to anything.

5). When making the head, arms, legs and tail, it's important to leave a small chunk for the middle. This is so that when you place the tortoise shell on top, it won't cave in and crumble. I also used two sunflower seeds for each eye and outlined the mouth with a butter knife.

6). The shell will have to be pretty sturdy and sticky, so the best recipe to use would be one for your favourite energy balls. I used the same cake ingredients, which were in my raw chocolate brownie, but without the icing. Remember to process the nuts to a powder first, then add everything else.

7). To form a shell, you'll need a slippery surface, so you could then slide it off. Otherwise cut a round/oval shape out of baking paper for guidance and ease of transporting it. Press hard to make sure it is solid and soften the edges with a butter knife or your fingers.

8). Assemble all the body parts on the cashew grass. Be gentle without pressing them into the icing, incase you'll need to fix their position once the shell is on.

9). Gently place the shell on top and check from all sides, that it looks right to the eye. You may like to stop at this stage, as the light coloured nuts mixed with dates and cacao powder give the shell a realistic look already.

10). You should have left over icing, so spread it over the entire shell with a butter knife. You can even make the shell a totally new colour by mixing things like goji berries or beetroot juice in with the cashew cream.

11). If you are skipping the chocolate shell pieces in the next step, you can leave the shell with just this frosting, but use a soft spatular or a brush to even out the surface.

12). Stick on your prepared raw chocolates all over the shell starting from the top. They should be quite easy to attach, but in a case where your icing is too running, let the whole cake cool in the fridge for about 10 minutes and try again.

She's one good looking lady! I'm just glad the responsibility to cut her up is not mine :)

I posted this picture on Facebook and some of you asked to report what the neighbours thought of their unconventional cake. Well to my pleasant surprise, the lovely Emma who found Shakes and took her to the Vet, was super sweet to leave this comment on the picture:

"We are the neighbours - this was our first ever raw cake and it exceeded all our expectations . But we did feel mean cutting into such a realistic tortoise! It will definitely make us try more raw products...thank you Tanya and Shakespeare!!"

Success! Yussss.

6 comments

COMPETITION! Win Raw Food 101 DVDs, $500 gift card and daily prizes

Posted by 2 · July 28, 2012

Please note this competition is now closed.

Thank you SO much for all your votes and your support...

I WON!!! Whoop woop!

And three of you are also winners...

Mel, Ella and Heather Haigh- please send your postal details to info@corporatecreme.co.uk and we'll get your copy of Raw Food 101 DVD to you. Congrats!

Hey there,

I've been approached to take part in the Ethical Ocean Vegan Recipe Challenge and I am going to WIN! Just getting it out there :) You don't get to the Olympics thinking otherwise! This whole London 2012 buzz has gone to my head and I've got my challenge face on, fighters outfit sorted and positive (wishful?) thinking on full gear!

Moment of truth: I can't do it without YOU. So I have a favour to ask... with rewards for you too of course! Keep reading.

The Olympics Opening Ceremony goers

I never usually enter competitions, but I absolutely love the ethos of this awesome company doing amazing things for the earth, people and animals. And what a privilege to be part of it! Of course I'll do it, duh. Ethical Ocean is an online store, where you can purchase the very best ethical products from clothing to beauty products to accessories to home wares. And they are all so stylie, there is nothing in the site I wouldn't be proud of owning.

Below you can find what awesome prizes you could win just by voting and because I really really appreciate your support, I am providing a copy of Raw Food 101 DVD to 3 lucky winners! Raw Food 101 is the best beginners guide to raw foods in a 2,5 hr DVD with 20 easy and scrumptious recipes. Chapters: Equipment, Smoothies vs Juices, Nut milks, Superfoods, Sprouting, Fermenting, Dehydrating, Easy Meals & Sweets.

Why you should vote for my recipe:
1). It's just a darn delicious, easy and healthy burger.
2). It is the only raw food recipe in the competition.
3). You can win a daily prize from Ethical Ocean AND you can vote every single day (every 24 hours) until 12th August!
4). If you vote for the winning recipe (hint: Curried Raw Food Burgers), you can win a Grand Prize of $500 gift card to Ethical Ocean.
5). Every vote and social network shout-out for my burger (remember you can vote daily!) will go in the draw to win 1 of 3 Raw Food 101 DVDs!

Your winning action plan:
1). Go to Ethical Ocean to vote now>>
2). Refresh the browser every 24 hours and vote daily for extra winning chances>>
3). Leave a comment below to tell me that you've voted to be in the draw for 1 of 3 Raw Food 101 DVDs. (If you vote for me multiple days, you can either tell me each time in the comments below or give me the sum of total days voted in one comment later).
4). For more chances to win 1 of 3 Raw Food 101 DVDs,
announce this on Twitter: Enter to win awesome prizes and RawFood101 DVDs, vote for @TanyaAlekseeva 's #Raw Curried Sun Burger recipe now http://tinyurl.com/cdm4awk
or this on Facebook: Enter to win awesome prizes and RawFood101 DVDs, vote for @Better Raw 's Curried Raw Food Sun Burger recipe now http://tinyurl.com/cdm4awk
then come back here to tell me that you've done it in the comments below.

Good luck to me! I mean you :)))

Thank you so much for your support!

Note: You will be notified by Ethical Ocean direct if you are the lucky winner or daily prizes or $500 gift card. For full details of their competition, go here. Competition for 3 Raw Food 101 DVDs is sponsored by Tanya Alekseeva of Better Raw and is open to anyone worldwide. Winners for Raw Food 101 DVDs will be drawn at random on August 13th 2012 and announced on www.BetterRaw.com and on Facebook.

82 comments

LUSH ESCAPES- Luxury Raw Food and Yoga Retreat 5-8 October 2012

Posted by 2 · July 26, 2012

Gorgeous! Are you thinking about an escape? A luxury getaway? This year there will only be ONE Lush Escapes weekend retreat and already over half of it is booked out.

We've even invigorated our most popular workshops with fresh content, some of which is the very best from everything we've taught over the past year and some of which will be revealed only to our attendees over the weekend! We've upgraded our raw food menu to a focus on alkalising foods, widened the variety of movement class curriculum, incorporated life-evolving meditation sessions, and changed the scene to the ocean.

So basically, this is going to be our best retreat yet! Are you coming?

Lush Escapes Sept 2011, image by Apix Photography

"Calm your senses in tranquil surrounds, nourish your body with raw foods, and energise your spirit with Yoga as you experience the ultimate retreat”

This Autumn, escape with us (Tanya Alekseeva & Colby Hanks) to a magnificent beachside mansion house in Suffolk. Between Friday evening and Monday morning you'll enjoy our top selection of modern culinary and movement classes in an exquisitely designed classical landscape. This ideal setting for rejuvenation feels a world away and yet it's just 1,5 hours by train from London. Every room in the property is tastefully furnished and there will be plenty of opportunities to discover and enjoy your perfect place to unwind.

Relax in one of the many indoor and outdoor lounge areas, including the patio of a privately-enclosed courtyard garden, practise yoga under open skies, and relish your free time on outdoor walks, ocean dips or hot tub relaxation, then savour your meals in elegant dining rooms. Engage in learning the making of all recipes, DVD nights and meditation in spacious drawing rooms, or simply curl up for a read in a quiet window seat.

"I arrived depleted and emotionally empty. Within a few hours I felt revived and my energy, strength, spirit and happiness increased rapidly throughout the weekend. I recommend Lush Escapes to everyone!" -Michelle, Australia

"I’ve done and overcome more in the past 3 days than the last 12 years... Tanya and Colby made me feel so positive and relaxed." - Laura, Wales

Where: Beachside Aldeburgh, Suffolk, UK

When: 7PM Friday 5th October- 9AM Monday 8th October

Transport: Saxmundham Train Station, Suffolk

Fee: Early bird rates start at £395 through to 12 August 2012. Price includes luxury accommodation, all ingredients and meals, yoga and rumba classes, raw food workshops, meditation sessions, private consultations, ocean and jacuzzi dips, plus transfers to/from station and un-revealed surprises. For full details, visit http://www.lushescapes.co.uk/

P.S. If you can’t quite wait till October 5th, Colby and I are running our popular 1 Day City Retreat on Sunday September 2nd in London. It is an absolute steal of a deal for a full day of Raw Food and Yoga for Beginners, take a look>>

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