{create} summer berry cheesecake

Happy Wednesday friends! I hope you all had a great long weekend. We had an amazing time at the Oregon Coast with friends, including a spectacular hike, and lots of sunny beach time. I have pictures to share with you later this week.

For our time at the beach, I made a dessert I've been dying to try for quite a while: berry cheesecake. We all know that summer is the BEST because of the amazing berries in season and this cheesecake is an amazing way to showcase them.

The cheesecake though is special. Why, you might ask? Because it doesn't contain any dairy. In fact, it's raw. Don't stop reading, k? Let me explain, because this cheesecake is DELICIOUS and you don't want to miss out.

See, the thing is, I've never completely delved into this subject here, but we're an allergy stricken home: no gluten. No dairy. But, we LOVE good food. It's a dilemma, trust me. And, one of our friends who joined us as the beach this weekend is gluten, dairy, soy and corn free. I love finding amazing recipes that will work for all of us. Because no one should go without dessert, right?

This recipe is so amazing, and is tangy, creamy goodness -- just like full-dairy cheesecake. The crust in a lovely coconutty accompaniment, and the berries just make it over-the-top amazing. 

So why should you try it, even if you don't have crazy allergies? The cashew and almond base makes this decadent treat full of healthy fats and loads of protein. I hate feeling guilty after dessert about all the empty calories I just consumed. But, while this dessert is decadent and  amazing, it isn't full of refined flour and refined sugar. I LOVE that.

Summer Berry {Raw} Cheesecake

adapted from Whole Family Fare

Crust Ingredients:

• 1 c. raw almonds, soaked for 12-24 hours and drained
• 16 oz. raw, flaked coconut
• 2 heaping tbsp. raw honey or agave
• 4 heaping tbsp. coconut oil
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• generous pinch of sea salt

Filling Ingredients:

• 2 c. raw cashews, soaked overnight and drained
• 1/2 c. raw honey or agave
• 1/2 c. coconut oil
• 1/2 c. fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• water
• pinch of sea salt
• 3 cups fresh blueberries and blackberries

Method:

1. Place the almonds in the bowl of a food processor and grind them. 
2. Add the coconut and process for a minute or so. 
3. Add in the honey, coconut oil and salt. Process until everything is incorporated. 
4. Remove from bowl and press into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan. Place in the freezer while you make the filling.
5. Place the cashews and about 1/4 cup water in the pitcher of a blender. Blend well. 
6. Slowly add in the lemon juice, coconut oil, honey, vanilla and salt. Add a little more water, if you need to. Blend until very creamy. 
7. Remove the crust from the freezer and pour in about half of the filling. Scatter about half of the berries on top, then the rest of the filling. 
8. Arrange the remaining berries on top. 
9. Place in the freezer for a few hours, and leave at room temperature for at least an hour before serving. Store leftovers in the refrigerator, up to a few days.

I'm super curious: have you all ever tried a RAW dessert? How did it turn out? If not, what's your favorite type of cheesecake?

{inspired} summer lovin'

Beyond the normal reasons to love the 4th of July - friends, bar-b-ques, food, fireworks - I am especially fond of this holiday for a couple reasons. First, I met Chris FOUR years ago at a 4th of July bar-b-que. And yes, there were friends, food and fireworks - lots of fireworks (wink) - involved.

Second, 4th of July marks the unofficial start to summer here in Oregon. Oregon doesn't go by the calendar, It still delivers rain up to (actually, usually THRU) the 4th. But then, almost magically, a switch flips and we have sun and warmth and .... summer!

To mark this *unofficial* beginning of summer, I thought I'd share some of the best parts of summer, in my opinion.

The Beach.

Alicia Bock

If you aren't near a beach, I am sorry. Visiting the beach really is such a lovely summer activity.

Cute Swimsuits.

Boden

Although evil at the core, if you're going to bust out  a swimsuit, it might as well be cute, right?

Eating {Normal-Everyday-Dinners} Outside

a ladys findings 

They just feel more special, no?

Cute Dresses.

paper cakes finds

I LIVE in dresses in the summer. They're the perfect remedy for staying cool and looking cute.

Bright Nail Polish.

polish or perish

Obviously.

Bar-b-Ques.

the party dress

Besides meeting cute boys and future husbands, they're just so much fun.

The Essence of Summer.

typographie

I think it all boils down to this: summer just has a different feel about it than the rest of the year. It's laid-back, it's *chill*, it's .... lazy. And, I'm so excited to welcome it back.

Friends, what's your favorite part of summer?

I hope you enjoy your extended 4th of July weekend! :)

{inspired} a summer of fun

I've been having some thoughts on summer lately. After our hard wood floor + back entryway projects, Chris and I agreed that we were not taking on any more major projects this summer. Mostly because the next big project on our list is the bath and gutting the room that houses our only shower scares me. This doesn't mean we won't do some little projects. I will finish my craft room. And, we will finish the back porch we started last summer. 

Ultimately, my goal this summer is to have fun. Period. It seems a little silly to say out loud, but for the past three summers we've tackled pretty major house renovations. We've painted the house, landscaped the front yard, built a garage. The list goes on. This summer though, I want to hang out with my friends, I want to go antiquing, and hiking and on little weekend getaways. I want to wake up on a Saturday morning and spontaneously decided to drive over to the coast. Or up into the mountains. 

It was with this mindset that I ended up in Hood River, OR on Sunday. Hood River is about an hour east of Portland, in the gorgeous Columbia River Gorge. Chris was heading up there to buy a car (I'll explain in a minute), so I tagged along to explore the area a little .... something I've never done, even though it's so close.

This is the car *we* bought. Chris has a vintage car obsession hobby and he's sooooo excited about this guy. I think it'll be pretty fun to ride around in :).

After we checked out the car, we explored. It's amazingly beautiful country, so I thought I'd bring you all along for the ride.

Our first stop was a charming lavender farm. I've always wanted a covered patio area overflowing with plants and flowers. It's so English-garden to me, and I this lavender farm really brought this idea to life. It was so cozy and sweet, and I took a million pictures.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that this was the view from the patio tables. That's Mount Hood. It keeps watch over Portland and the Columbia River Gorge.

Loving the vines, and all the wild flowers bordering the seating area.

More seating. They actually have weddings in the far-off grassy area, and I welcome anyone who is having a wedding here in the near future to invite me. I buy great wedding gifts. :)

We also stopped at a winery ... and suddenly this blog is about my adventures drinking my way through Oregon. What can I say? Wineries are great fun.

One thing this area is know for though, is the number of farms. We stopped at a quite a few, talked to the farmers and bought up delicious strawberries, cherries and veggies.

I'll be taking lots of photos on my adventures and sharing some of them with you here. I hope you don't mind! But even more so, I hope you join in. Here's to a summer of fun .... who's with me? :)