Sustainable Delicious Cuisine in Paradise
By Amber Zuckswert
What do you do in the heat of the Costa Rican Summer when all you want is a piece of cake? Whip up this super easy and scrumptious raw vegan, no-bake, cake made with natures most perfect foods. It is creamy, sweet, fresh, tart, and beautiful.
Coconut Berry Blast Banana Ice Cream Cake
- 10 strawberries for outside, cut in half
- Vanilla ice cream cake layer
- 2 cups cashews
- 2 bananas
- 1 cup dates
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
- Seeds from 1/2 vanilla pod (or 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract)
- Coconut milk or coconut water, as needed
Berry layer:
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 cup of nut milk or coconut water, use as needed
- 1 cup dates, walnuts or another banana
Preparation:
To make the first layer: place the halved strawberries around the edge of a spring form pan. Set aside. Now blend all the vanilla ice cream cake ingredients together until smooth, adding as little vegan milk or coconut water as possible (I used about 1/4 cup). Spread into the bottom of the pan, this should press the berries to the inner edge. Put in the freezer. To make the berry layer: blend it all up until smooth. Carefully spread over top of the vanilla ice cream cake layer and put in the freezer for about 2 or 3 hours, until it’s set. Then cut and serve with other berries! Let it soften a little before eating, because it makes it creamier.
Eating healthy never needs to be boring or tasteless. As a nutritionist, one of the most fun aspects of transitioning my clients to a cleaner diet is inspiring and educating them on how to make fast, easy and delicious food. Like the ice cream cake above.
The vast majority of people who come to me have wonderful intentions and are eager to change they way they eat, yet lack the skills to create scrumptious healthy cuisine. They own dozens of recipe books collecting dust in their kitchens and for some reason haven’t made more then a handful of meals. Sound familiar? They fall back on convenient, comfort, take-out foods because they are fast, cheap, and don’t require an ounce of effort. The ultimate downside to this heavily processed convenience food is a sub par existence now and shorter lifespan due to chronic and acute disease.
Luckily, healthy food prep/cooking lessons and schools are on the rise world wide. More then ever before people are taking their personal and family’s health into their own hands by learning how to prepare the highest quality food available. Progress is happening thanks to presidents, celebrities, doctors, and feature films that are revealing the power of a plant based diet to the masses. Eating whole foods from the Earth has never been so popular or trendy in mainstream media.
In Manuel Antonio and Quepos there are currently no organic restaurants or grocery stores. And our local feria farmers only offer conventionally grown produce. Even the standard fruit smoothies on local menus are laced with sugar and concentrates. I have to ask why?! Costa Rica produces the most perfect tropical fruit and vast array of super foods! I see this as a massive problem for the local environment, economy, and health of the people.
I’m forging a new path in sustainable plant based cuisine by offering certified organic produce and super foods to the public and restaurants through my weekly co-op. I also produce workshops, all inclusive wellness retreats and training programs to teach the life skills (cooking and nutrition) that are necessary for vibrant health and longevity.
My next teacher training program in Manuel Antonio features world renowned superfood chef Kate Magic. Her all inclusive beginning, advanced and superstar chef certification programs have something for everyone. Whether you are a busy mom, stressed executive, brand new to raw super foods, or eager to start a new career, this program offers beyond everything you need. Take the two day beginner, five day advanced, three day superstar course, or all three, for a fully comprehensive 12 day training.
What’s included? Accommodation at Villas Jacquelina, three superfood meals per day, 5 hrs per day chef training, take home manuals, morning 90 min pilates and yoga classes, day adventures to beaches and waterfalls, chef certification and so much more.
Read all the fun details and register at Epicself.com or call (506) 8565-4815. Be sure to call or email about local resident pricing.
Amber Zuckswert is the founder of Epic Living Retreats based in Manuel Antonio and Epicself.com Online Wellness Coaching. She’s an internationally recognized online/live pilates and yoga instructor, professional contemporary dancer, holistic nutritionist and lifestyle design expert from San Francisco, CA.
She loves nothing more then sharing her passions and empowering others to dramatically upgrade their life through mind/body fitness, peak performance nutrition, cultural immersion and adventure through her online programs and all inclusive wellness retreats. Explore her upcoming retreats and personalized programs available in Manuel Antonio on Epiclivingretreats.com.