Welcome to my crazy world of real food cooking ...

Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly Plants. -- Michael Pollan

I wish I could take credit for that because I think it sums up how we should eat. Simply -- eat stuff that really is food, instead of stuff that is food like substance. The supermarket is almost entirely food-like-substances, and, my friends, you should probably never ever eat them.

Fortunately, there is a world of deliciousness out there, and it can all be had in a way that not only doesn't harm your health, but in a way that benefits you hugely.

I think it's important to eat stuff that satisfies you, that keeps your blood sugar stable, and that gives you stuff your body really needs to run optimally.

But baby, it's gotta taste good.

I really like getting experimental in the kitchen. I love cooking, I love layering flavours, and I love coming up with really super yummy food. I have very strong opinions about what constitutes food, and there are a lot of things I won't touch in the kitchen. Bottom line? Pretty much everything I make is ridiculously good for you even if it tastes decadent. Although there are occasional big fat cheats ... but even those stick to real food, my friends.

For food that is usual gluten free, usually free of cane sugar, usually super low on the glycemic index, full of protein, fiber, flavour, and excellent energy, join me and Alice down the rabbit hole.

Every recipe on this blog is my own original effort and idea, so please pass 'em on, giving credit where credit is due.

Many thanks, and come back often. I'm really glad you are here!

:)

Saturday, 7 May 2011

Chocolate Energy Bars -- gluten free, vegan, dairy free, sugar free, and delicious





I am addicted to raw cacao. I, who have never been a chocolate lover -- and still don't really like it (no offense meant) -- have become addicted to the taste of raw cacao. After our Passover fudge extravaganza, I have been trying to develop more wholesome recipes for something sweet and chocolatey. The main difference is that these are sweetened with some date and with some stevia (The green kind, made from crumbled stevia leaves . Thank you, Brooke.). There is pretty much a 1:1:1 ratio going on, with almonds, dates, and raw cacao. And, I'll confess I let my son eat them for breakfast as a chaser to his porridge. When you check out the ingredients, you, too,  might eat them for a meal.


ingredients:

1/2 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup roasted almonds
1/4 cup flax meal (ground flax seeds)
3/4 cup + 2 tbsp raw cacao (or 1 cup, which is an additional 2 tbsp)

3/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp ground vanilla bean
1 tsp ceylon cinnamon
a little black pepper
1 1/2 tsp stevia

1 cup pitted honey dates

1/2 cup coconut butter
1/2 cup coconut oil


directions:

1. put the almonds, flax meal, cacao, sea salt, vanilla, cinnamon, pepper, and stevia into the food processor, and process until homogeneous.
2. add the dates, and pulse until well mixed
3. add the coconut butter and coconut oil, and pulse until well mixed, and can form a ball. If it is too dry, add extra coconut oil.
4. press into a square pan, and score into 64 pieces
5. chill in the fridge or freezer until set
6.  store the squares in an airtight container, either in the fridge or freezer, depending on how cold you like 'em.
7. label the container either 'liver' or 'brains' so that no one will eat it while you are out. Seriously.


based on 64 squares, each square contains:  3/4 tsp raw cacao, 3/4 tsp almond 3/4 tsp date, 3/8 tsp coconut oil 3/8 tsp coconut butter, 3/16 tsp flax meal, and miniscule amounts of salt, stevia, vanilla, and cinnamon. Put that in your hat, cat!


Now, I've made these with some adjustments -- using 1/4 cup chia seeds, unground, and the extra 2 tbsp raw cacao. They are good that way. But, I think my favourite is the original, as listed above. YUMMY.

June variation: 1 cup roasted almonds, no raw almonds. 1/2 cup whey protein (not isolate) powder (organic of course). 1 cup shredded organic unsweetened coconut. Very good.


My current fave: 1 full cup raw cacao, 1 cup shredded coconut. Extra coconut oil as needed to make a ball. Perfection. Addiction. Abject piggery. Sigh ... I'm out of roasted almonds, only have raw, and it's too hot to turn the oven on. Raw almonds it is! (Hey, they are better for you anyway ...)

No comments: