As a gift of my gratitude I've made you all a chewy, chocolaty, berry treat! I started by making granola, haphazardly throwing together chopped dates, nuts, seeds and oatmeal with a delicious local citrus honey (recipes below). Next, because I was craving chocolate, no surprise there, I whipped together a vegan chocolate almond spread (similar to Nutella) adding orange zest, raw cacao powder, melted cocoa butter and roasted almonds into the food processor adding almond milk to thin it out. Since strawberries are at their peek, how could I not add a little one on top? Maybe some black berries or sliced nectarine? Perhaps drizzled with a little honey? Go crazy! We're celebrating!
My Cacao Almond Butter Spread can be used on anything that needs a chocolaty upgrade, cinnamon swirl toast, graham crackers, or even just an apple. Add any variations to the recipe as you like. Orange zest isn't a necessity but I like the combo of orange and chocolate. Paprika would be nice to kick it up a notch, just a pinch to keep the heat in the back of the throat. Add spoon fulls of your own cacao almond butter spread to heated almond milk for instant hot chocolate! But maybe later on in the year, ok? It's the middle summer for Pete's sake!
Granola is a healthy snack, as you know. It's packed with protein, fiber, potassium, omega 3 fatty acid, healthy fat as well as other essential vitamins and minerals. This particular recipe is loaded with Omega 3 fatty acids provided by the flax seeds, walnuts and hemp seeds. I also added goji berries, a super food, known for being one of the most nutrient rich fruits on the planet! It is a complete protein source and is filled with 18 amino acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and is considered a "a top longevity and strength-building food."
So if you find that you are running out of energy, starving, near death or just need a little something to snack on, eat some of this granola. It will bring you back to life!
So if you find that you are running out of energy, starving, near death or just need a little something to snack on, eat some of this granola. It will bring you back to life!
I Heart Granola
Makes 1 9" x 13" sheet tray. Feel free to use any mix of nuts this is what I had on hand and what I decided to put it. It's quite a long list but it can be adjusted to whatever nuts or dried fruit you like but try to keep the ratio the same. 1 cup of honey or agave nectar, 2 cups of nuts, around 2 cups of seeds, 2 cups of oatmeal, 1/4 cup of oil, and the binder is 2T of ground flaxseeds and 6T of water. Stay close to this mix and you will get chewy, super healthy granola bars.
Ingredients:
1 cup of honey of choice
2 cups of oatmeal (gluten free if needed)
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup pecans
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup pastaccios
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup hemp seeds
1/2 cup flax seeds
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/4 cup organic cocoa butter melted (or coconut oil)
1 cup of pitted dates
1/2 cup dried blueberries (or any kind of dried fruit)
1/2 cup of goji berries
2T ground flax seeds
6T water
2t cinnamon
1/4t sea salt
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a small bowl combine the 2 tablespoons of ground flax seeds and 6 tablespoons of water. Set aside for five minutes.
2. In a saucepan, over low heat, melt a chunk of cocoa butter. We only need a 1/4 cup or so. Once melted take off heat.
3. Get your food processor out. I first took a cup of the oatmeal and pulsed it a few times to break it down just a bit. 8-10 pulses should do. Empty the contents into a large bowl.
4. Next add the nuts into the food processor and pulse to chop them up. You could use a knife but this is much easier and less messy. Don't pulverize the nuts, just pulse to break them up a bit. If there are really small bits, it's ok, the honey will make everything stick together. If there are bigger chunks of nuts just break them up with your fingers. Add all the nuts to the big bowl.
5. Then add the prunes, I filled a 1 cup measuring cup with soft dates and added a few on top, to the food processor along with the dried blueberries and goji berries. Pulse into small pieces. Add to the large bowl.
6. Add all the seeds to the bowl, the cinnamon, sea salt and give it a good stir to mix.
7. Then, add the melted cocoa butter, flax seed water mixture (it should be good and slimy) and the honey and using a spatula mix until the honey is thoroughly combined.
8. Add parchment paper to the 9" X 13" sheet tray, hopefully with sides, to prevent the granola from sticking. Pour the contents of the bowl onto the tray using the spatula to spread it evenly. I pressed down in it to make sure it was even and firm.
9. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes or until the sides are golden brown. You can bake them longer if you want them to be a little crunchier.
Cacao Almond Butter Spread
Makes 10oz or so. You can use coconut oil instead of cocoa butter but the flavor will not be the same. Cocoa butter has the delicious aroma of chocolate and really makes this spread rich and decedent.
Ingredients:
2 cups almonds (roasted in an 325F oven for 15 minutes or until they have a nutty aroma)
3T organic cocoa butter melted
2-3T cacao powder
3-4T almond milk
2T honey
1/2t orange zest
Pinch of cinnamon
Pinch of sea salt
1. After roasting the almonds allow them to cool completely. Then using a food processor, blend the almonds into almond butter.
2. Melt cocoa butter in a pan on the stove on low heat. Take off the heat immediately. Add melted cocoa butter to food processor.
3. Add cacao powder, honey, orange zest, cinnamon and sea salt and blend until smooth.
4. Add almond milk slowly until the desired consistency. More can be added if you want a thinner spread.
Thanks to everyone who has encouraged and supported me in my adventure. This post is for you!
Lots of love!!
<3 K
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