(201) Gold Coast March 2016 | Page 42

Healthy Food No Place Like Home New cookbook welcomes readers inside the Oz family’s Gold Coast residence D r. Mehmet and Lisa Oz have certainly made themselves accessible to their audience over the years, sharing insights on matters relating to health, wellness and personal development through popular television and radio programs, best-selling books and charitable efforts in communities throughout the country. The couple’s most recent collaboration, The Oz Family Kitchen, is perhaps their most personal project yet, offering fans a seat at the table of their Cliffside Park home in the form of a near-300 page cookbook featuring more than 100 of Lisa’s favorite recipes supplemented with healthy eating tips from Dr. Oz, the Emmy Award-winning host of The Dr. Oz Show. “This project is a union of my personal and professional lives,” says Lisa, a writer, producer and entrepreneur whose love of food traces back to childhood experiences enjoying fruits and vegetables fresh from the family garden. Those familiar with her professional responsibilities may find it hard to believe that Lisa has enough time and energy to be the culinary wizard of the Oz clan, but the family places great emphasis on quality time spent around the table, even as work and school schedules make it increasingly difficult to do so. Perhaps more surprising is the variety of recipes contained in the book, which shatters the stereotype that the family of “America’s doctor” must eat only kale, broccoli and bean sprouts. “There are recipes that wouldn’t be considered traditional ‘Dr. Oz’ foods,” Lisa says. “Our approach to food emphasizes healthy eating, but almost as important is joy. If it doesn’t taste good you’re not going to eat it anyway.” > 40 MARCH 2016 (201) GOLD COAST Carrot Cake with Cashew Frosting MAKES 9 SERVINGS To begin the frosting: Put the cashews in a large bowl and add enough water to cover them by 1 inch. Let them stand until softened, at least 2 and up to 4 hours. Drain well. To make the cake: Put 1 cup of the shredded carrots in a medium saucepan. Add enough cold water to barely cover the carrots and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the carrots are tender, about 10 minutes. Drain well. Puree the carrots in a mini food processor or blender. You should have 1/3 cup puree. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly and evenly coat the inside of an 8-inch square baking pan with solid coconut oil. Dust with flour and tap out the excess flour. Cashew Frosting 1 1/2 cups unsalted and unroasted whole cashews (6 ounces) 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 2 tablespoons coconut oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt 1/3 cup coconut milk, as needed Carrot Cake 2 cups shredded carrots (use the large holes of a box grater) 1 cup packed light brown sugar 1/2 cup coconut oil 1/2 cup coconut milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour 3/4 cup whole wheat flour 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts (2 ounces) Grated zest of 1 orange Beat the brown sugar and coconut oil with an electric hand mixer at high speed until slightly paler in color, about 1 minute. Add the coconut milk, vanilla and the carrot puree and beat until foamy, about 1 minute more. Whisk the all-purpose and whole whea