How to stick to a diet

Let's say it's not that easy. What if they want you to bring dessert? Ok – easiest option here is a fruit salad but let's say they want you to bring something more substantial. Well, if I were asked to bring desert, I would whip up a raw dessert and have a great time doing so using a recipe I'd love to try. And then I'd also bring (usually buy) something cooked for guests who'd prefer it and/or kids. People really anticipate dessert and I wouldn't want to associate a raw dessert with being disappointed. Still, I'd show off how some raw desserts knock cooked ones out of the water!

Lastly, no matter what I am asked to bring, I always bring an extra dish made up of all raw ingredients that is awesome just to introduce raw cuisine to people. People tend to really get knocked out when I bring angel hair zucchini with pesto sauce. This gives you an extra dish to eat among the cooked options and, in my experience, it's only met with curiosity and delight. I present the dish with the explanation that I'm eating a lot of raw food these days and I thought this side dish was really great and I hope you don't mind that I brought it along to try.

This salad is a HUGE hit with people and it's one of the salads from my Summer Sampler Cookbook

Mesclun Salad With Shaved Pear
2 large handfuls of lettuce
One pear
1/4 c Walnuts
2tsp Agave

Dressing
2T olive oil
1T orange juice
2tsp Agave
rock salt to taste

Walnuts: If you have a toaster over, spread walnuts out on tray or foil, coat with Agave and toast on lightest setting. If you don't have a toaster oven, let walnuts soak in Agave while you prepare salad. Top salad w. walnuts just before serving.

Pears:
Leave skin on and shave with peeler completely to form layered shavings.
Dressing: Combine and add to salad just before serving