Raspberry Whip

Every Valentine's Day I am faced with the same old dilemma.  Having just barely recovered from the sugar overload of Christmas and New Year's, along comes another special occasion that begs celebrating.   With dessert.

Question: What to do?

Answer: Make Raspberry Whip!

This is a good-for-you dessert.  The original recipe, invented by my 'recipe developer-genius' sister Connie, calls for strawberries, which also are very lovely when used in this recipe.  But raspberries are what I happen to have in my house these days, so I present to you .... Raspberry Whip!

This lovely Valentine's Day-worthy dessert is made with gelatin, the cooked form of collagen.  Both gelatin and collagen are high protein products with similar health benefits.  These include:

• Maintenance of a healthy gut barrier (helps repair a leaky gut)
• Strengthening of hair, skin, and nails
• Support of liver function

While gelatin and collagen are not "complete proteins", the most abundant amino acids present in these foods are proline and glycine.

Proline improves skin texture, heals cartilage, and strengthens joints, tendons, and the heart muscle. 

As for glycine, it is necessary for central nervous system function and has been used in the treatment of bipolar depression.  In addition, a 2014 study has shown that glycine may help people with Type 2 diabetes manage their condition.   (Of course, these health benefits do not apply to the gelatin-based gummy candies, which are also high in sugar!)

Keep in mind that collagen may not be substituted for gelatin in recipes such as this, since it does not have gelling properties.  I tried.  The end result was  a very tasty but soupy end product.  Now I add a scoop of Natural Factor's pomegranate flavoured Total Body Collagen (which has added tryptophan to make it a complete protein) along with the gelatin for enhanced nutrition and a rather delightful raspberry-pomegranate flavour.   

This recipe literally whips up in minutes.

Raspberry Whip

INGREDIENTS:

2 Tablespoons whole almonds (or almond flour)

3/4 cup hot water

11 grams gelatin (about 1 1/2 pouches of the Knox variety)

1/4 cup liquid honey

3 tablespoons oil (I use avocado)

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 scoop Total Body pomegranate collagen (optional)

2 cups frozen raspberries (or strawberries)

DIRECTIONS:

• Place almonds in food processor bowl and process until ground fine.
• Add hot water and blend until milky.
• Add gelatin and process until it is well-softened.
• Add honey, oil, vanilla, optional collagen, and process again.
• With motor running, add berries of choice and keep processing until mixture is whipped and a pretty Valentine's Day light pink in colour.
• Pour or scoop into serving dishes.  If the mixture hasn't immediately set, place the dessert in the refrigerator for about 1/2 an hour and that should do the trick.

Garnish with berries, cacao nibs, coconut whipped topping or whatever your heart desires.  Happy Valentine's Day!