Crunchy Almond Butter Bites

These are best friends with peanut butter bites. They are ridiculously yummy but not as in your face. Nobody is as in your face as peanut butter. Even with the freezer door shut, I can hear the peanut butter bites yelling 'In Your Face'. Not the almond butter bites though. They are mannerly and refined.

equipment needed:
mixing bowl and mixing spoon
scraper and plastic spatula
measuring cups
measuring spoon
square silicone pan or square glass pan and baking parchment


ingredients:

1/2 cup coconut nectar
1/2 cup smooth almond butter

1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground vanilla bean

 2 cups shredded coconut
1/2 cup hemp hearts
1/4 cup buckwheat groats
1/4 cup dates, pitted and chopped


directions:
1. combine the coconut nectar with the almond butter and mix in the sea salt and ground vanilla bean
2. stir in the shredded coconut and hemp hearts
3. stir in the buckwheat groats
4. stir in the chopped dates
5. press with great force into the square pan. I like to cover it with parchment whilst pressing so it doesn't end up on my hands, but that's just me.
6. score into bites
7. chill or freeze
8. remove from pan and store in an airtight container (I keep mine in the freezer)

Crunchy Peanut Butter Bites V 2.0

The irony of these bites is that they are made with smooth peanut-butter. That smooth organic peanut butter you can buy in bulk at the bulk barn. It should really be a controlled substance. Maybe it's just me? I think it is highly addictive. The crisp toothsome joy of these bites is not alas from perfectly roasted peanut pieces. Rather, it comes from raw buckwheat groats which are delicate enough to yield under slight pressure, but keep their encouraging crunchiness when made into bites.

Don't skimp on the sea salt, friends.

Unless you use salted peanut butter.

equipment needed:
mixing bowl
mixing spoon
scraper
measuring cups
measuring spoons
silicone square pan or glass pan lined with parchment
plastic spatula


ingredients:
1/2 cup coconut nectar
1/2 cup smooth organic peanut butter

1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground vanilla bean

2 cups shredded coconut
1/2 cup hemp hearts
1/4 cup buckwheat groats
1/4 cup dates, pitted and chopped


directions:
1. combine the coconut nectar with the peanut butter and mix in the sea salt and ground vanilla bean
2. stir in the shredded coconut and hemp hearts
3. stir in the buckwheat groats
4. stir in the chopped dates
5. press with great force into the square pan. I like to cover it with parchment whilst pressing so it doesn't end up on my hands, but that's just me.
6. score into bites
7. chill or freeze
8. remove from pan and store in an airtight container (I keep mine in the freezer)

Nemesis Makes Dinner -- gluten free, vegan, vegerrific and palate pleasing

I managed to throw a bunch of stuff in a pot, throw it in the oven, and have it come out and be enjoyed by everyone. That's a bit of a win. Colin even had two helpings. Huzzah!!

ingredients:

2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
2 medium onions, finely chopped

2 cups black lentils -- they are called 'beluga' lentils
1/4 cup quinoa
1/4 cup crumbled dried mushrooms -- I don't think it matters too  much what kind you use

2 cups roughly chopped carrots

2 cups roughly chopped celery (I use celery hearts, but probably any celery will do)

3 cups halved and sliced zucchini
6 cups diced tomatoes (do not use romas or plum tomatoes -- you'll need juicy ones)

1/4 cup almond butter

1 tbsp sea salt
1 tsp chili powder

1 can coconut milk -- I highly recommend using organic and stay away from 'lite'

1/4 cup roasted buckwheat groats -- aka kasha
2 tbsp nutritional yeast


directions:

in a large casserole (or cast iron dutch oven such as Nemesis)
1. layer the ingredients in the order listed and do not stir
2. finish it off with the sprinkled kasha and nutritional yeast and bake for at least 90 minutes
3. stir well then serve with whatever turns your crank -- we had raw spinach leaves

Because only the liquid from the tomatoes and other vegetables, as well as the coconut milk, will be used in this, it will be extra flavourful.