
Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide that is used as a thickener. Leave it out if you wish.
1 jar (28 ounces) of pears in their own juice
1/3 cup raw cashews
1 tablespoon alcohol-free vanilla extract
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1. Drain the pears and reserve the juice for another use.
2. In a blender, blend the pears until smooth.
3. Add the cashews, vanilla, and xanthan gum, and blend until smooth. Chill before serving over pie or fruit desserts.
Note: You may also substitute unsweetened jarred peaches in their own juice for the pears.

Chef AJ has been devoted to a plant-based diet for almost 40 years, and is proud to say that her IQ is higher than her cholesterol. She is the host of the television series Healthy Living with Chef AJ, which airs on Foody TV, and also hosts a weekly podcast of the same name. As a comedienne as well as a chef, she has made appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and The Late Show with David Letterman. She is the author of the popular books The Secrets to Ultimate Weight Loss: A Revolutionary Approach to Conquer Cravings, Overcome Food Addiction and Lose Weight Without Going Hungry, and Unprocessed, the co-producer of Healthy Taste of L.A., and the creator of the Ultimate Weight Loss Program, which has helped hundreds of people achieve the health and body they deserve. Chef AJ was also the executive pastry chef at Santé Restaurant in Los Angeles, where she was famous for her sugar-, oil-, salt- and gluten-free desserts, which used the fruit, the whole fruit, and nothing but the whole fruit. Chef AJ holds a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from eCornell University and is a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.