Do you like moist, dense brownies? Do you like creamy, cinnamon-y sweet potato or pumpkin pie? Then I bring good news with me today, friend. This recipe is for you. It's both those magical, wondrous foods combined into one cake. Hellooo.
Showing posts with label cacao. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cacao. Show all posts
WALNUT CHOCOLATE CAKE with SWEET POTATO FROSTING
Do you like moist, dense brownies? Do you like creamy, cinnamon-y sweet potato or pumpkin pie? Then I bring good news with me today, friend. This recipe is for you. It's both those magical, wondrous foods combined into one cake. Hellooo.
ALMOND CACAO COOKIES with SALTED MACA CARAMEL
I made these for my friend, Vanessa, because she has a handful of food sensitives which leaves her unable to make a lot of my recipes. Sad face. My goal in making these was to keep out all the stuff she can't have, and throw together all the stuff she loves! Happy face. The visual inspiration came from a treat I saw in the dessert display shelf at Gorilla Food a couple days ago when I was there with Vanessa.
If you're getting tired of all these sweet recipes - especially after I've promised numerous times I'll be making more savoury stuff - please don't leave me yet! NEVER LEAVE MEEEE. I swear some non-desserts are on their way. *Cough cough raw vegan poutine cough* Having said that, you guys are giving me some great dessert ideas to rawify like tiramisu, ferrero rochers, chocolate croissants, baklava... so those should be expected too.
I know in years, I'm young (20 is considered young, right? I don't know anything anymore...) but I can't help sensing that this gloomy feeling will never go away completely, but only be diminished temporarily by distractions like friends, romantic partners, school, movies, exercise, food, etc. It seems like the only things that aren't distractions are getting lost in great music and meditating. I've talked about this subject before: I usually feel utterly alone and lost in the world. I don't even feel human most of the time. I think I was meant to be a tree, or a sloth... or a moth.
Life is too emotionally overwhelming for me to cope with, and the fact that I feel that no one can understand what I go through every day only makes it more depressing. I mean even with my closest friends and family... they have never really seen what I am, and I don't know how to show them. But in any case, I don't particularly care about showing them. What's the point? Ya know? I hope some of you read this and can connect with my situation. Otherwise you are probably thinking, "Okay - this girl is crazy, naive AND mega depressing... I'm getting outta here."
Please don't go though! I made you cookies!
I certainly don't want to turn this into a pity party. I have an AMAZING LIFE. I am surrounded by loving, beautiful, devoted individuals who constantly make me feel great about who I am - that includes you! Thank you! I am young, healthy, getting a great education, financially stable (if that matters), living a gorgeous city, finding great success in work I absolutely love doing (this blog)... I mean I basically have my own dream life and couldn't possibly ask for more. The world seems to be on my side, blessing me with everything I could ever want; while my own mind is against me, never letting me be permanently content. This anguish has nothing to do with my life circumstances, it just seems to be part of my inherent nature. Once I described it as "being so happy, I have to be sad." Does that make an ounce of sense?
Ah, I dunno. Let's eat healthy food and worry about this later. I sincerely apologize if this post bummed you out. It's not like I'm faking it when I act happy - I can BE the happiest person I know! I'm just saying that it seems like my natural, default setting is sad... and I wish it was otherwise.
UPDATE: Okay so I wrote the post above about 2 days ago and I am relieved to say that since then, my spirits have been lifted substantially. A really good friend came over and made me feel loads better. Today I am ready to return to my positive and productive self. It's not like I am fixed forever; I know I'll be sad again at some point. But for now I am appreciating this renewed joy for all it is. I like to see happiness and sadness as intertwined and equally valuable, I work to find balance in all aspects of my life; and a balance between happiness and sadness is included in that.
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ALMOND CACAO COOKIES with SALTED MACA CARAMEL
Almond cacao cookies:
1 cup almonds
1 cup dates
2 heaping tablespoons cacao powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Salted maca caramel:
1 cup dates
2 tablespoons maca powder
Himalayan pink crystal salt, to taste
3/4 cup water, more or less as needed
Topping (optional):
Pecan halves, walnut halves and/or almonds
To make the cookies: pulse the almonds into flour in a food processor, then add the rest of the ingredients and pulse until it all sticks together. Press into the bottom of a lined baking pan and put in the fridge.
To make the caramel: blend all the ingredients until smooth and thick like whipped cream. Put this in the fridge for about 2 hours.
Use a cookie cutter to make your cookies, then scoop a spoonful of caramel on top of each one. Press a walnut, almond or pecan onto the dollop of caramel. Refrigerate overnight or at least for a few hours... then enjoy with fresh almond milk!
super food energy bars with cacao
These are chock full of super foods to provide your body and mind with long-lasting energy to get through your busy (or leisurely) day. What have they got? Chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, cacao nibs, raisins, dates and coconut. You can't beat this recipe as far as nutrition goes. Try to find organic varieties of each ingredient - and of course raw!
I was snacking on the mix as I made the recipe and immediately felt a difference, they gave me enough strength to get through a workout and then they made an excellent post-exercise snack, paired with my green protein smoothie. I had a bit of extra mix that I shaped into tiny cupcakes and I thought... hey, I could top these off with dark chocolate to make it a sweet super food treat. Done.
super food energy bars with cacao: makes about 15 bars
1 cup walnuts
1/3 cup chia seeds
1/3 cup ground flax seeds
1/3 cup hemp seeds
1/4 cup cacao nibs
1/4 cup coconut flakes
3/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup dates
1-2 tablespoons melted coconut oil, if needed
Throw the dry ingredients (keep a little bit of each ingredient to add in a second) in your food processor, then add the dates and raisins and process until everything it starts to stick together. If too dry, add more dates or coconut oil. Put in the remaining dry ingredients you left out and mix in with your hands. Press into a lined pan and set in the fridge for an hour or more. Cut into bars and store for up to one week. If you have extra, shape them into cupcakes and top off with raw chocolate.
vanilla chocolate chunk cheesecake with peanut butter + coconut
This is my new favourite recipe, and you can probably see why. Chocolate, peanut butter, banana, coconut, vanilla - all in one gooey, decadent cheesecake. Just... YES. I made this for my boyfriend as an apology cake and I'm pretty sure it guarantees I am forgiven. Although I may have just jinxed it... Nawwwww. I'm good. Look at this thing.
Seriously, make this for people who call you mean names for being vegan or eating healthy. They will never mock your diet choices again. It tastes so deliciously dirty. I crammed a piece into my mouth (sans cutlery) while moaning "OH. MY. GOSH." The boyfriend had two slices before it was even dinner time.
A couple side notes: I sprinkled some date pieces, coconut flakes and cacao nibs throughout the layers for extra texture - I recommend doing this. The dates are chewy, the cacao nibs are crunchy, the coconut flakes are... coconut-y goodness. Also, I decorated the top with some chocolates I had made the day before. You can use my raw chocolate recipe here.
vanilla chocolate chunk cheesecake with peanut butter + coconut:
Crust:
1 cup oats (or buckwheat if you want it GF)
1 cup dates
Cheesecake:
2 or more bananas
1/4 cup melted coconut oil
2 cups cashews
1 1/2 cups dates
1/4 cup liquid sweetener, like maple syrup, if desired
Beans from one vanilla pod (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
Water, as needed
1/4 cup cacao or carob powder
Topping:
3 tablespoons raw chocolate
3 tablespoons raw peanut butter (or you can use regular - it's up to you)
To make the crust: process the oats (or buckwheat) and dates until they stick together. Press into the bottom of a spring form pan and put in the fridge.
To make the cheesecake: blend all ingredients - EXCEPT cacao or carob - until very smooth. Add as little water as possible to keep your cheesecake creamy. If you don't want to add any water, use some liquid sweetener or another banana. Now take out half the batter and put in a bowl. Add the cacao or carob in the remaining batter that is still in your blender and blend until it's incorporated. Now spread the vanilla layer and the chocolate layers on your crust, alternating a few times. Set in the freezer overnight and then drizzle with peanut butter and chocolate the next day. Enjoy!
product review: nature's happiness
Hey, folks! Today I give you some insider info about an awesome company called Nature's Happiness. (The name is a good start.) They call themselves an organic super food store and I think that is a great description. They were kind enough to send me some products to review. I was given way more than I was expecting, and truly love everything I tried. All the products are raw, vegan and organic. They sent me spirulina powder, maca root powder, HURRAW! lip balm, cacao nibs. yerba mate tea, and coconut flakes - sweet!
Well actually, the spirulina powder is super bitter but I got used to it pretty fast. Reminds me of wheat grass. It's a total superstar in the nutritional kingdom because it has crazy amounts of chlorophyll and protein. That's a good thing. I like to add it to smoothies and juice - it is such a fine powder I don't even notice it - for an extra hit of green goodness.
The maca powder had a unique flavour I'd never experienced before, which I quickly developed a liking for. Some people think it tastes weird but I like it, as long as it's paired with something sweet. It's fun to add to things with chocolate. I have used it in truffles and as a topping on a vanilla chocolate cake.
Speaking of chocolate - the cacao nibs are fabulous as well. I like the more intense, unprocessed flavour it gives to recipes (compared to cocoa) and the energy boost it I feel after consuming it. Hurraw for raw chocolate! And cake... and truffles...
The coconut flakes are probably my favourite because they just taste so RAW. Normally I just get unsweetened, organic, dried coconut chunks but the ones from Nature's Happiness practically melt in your mouth. They are so unrefined and delicate. I sprinkle them on almost everything, including the chocolate caramel cups at the top of this post. And a kiwi tart I made two days ago.
The yerba mate tea is really delicious and makes me feel good all around. That's all I have to say about that.
Lastly, the HURRAW! lip balm is awesome. I had one before but now I have three! They sent me two different kinds: coconut, green tea. I love them all but the plain coconut one is probably my favourite. The ingredients are ones that I use myself like jojoba oil, coconut oil, and essential oils. They taste great and make my lips soft. Plus - it's the only raw lip balm I know of. And of course, totally vegan.
fudgy raw brownies
Raw brownies are one of the best things in the world. They are - in my opinion - approximately 10,000 times more delicious than regular brownies and on top of that they are infinitely more healthy AND easy to make. I literally made these guys in ten minutes. They were promptly devoured in five.
I'd like to say that I won't be posting fora few days because I am going to Vancouver Island for an annual mini-vacation. Tofino, to be exact. There I will soak up the lovely rain, hug the ancient trees and frolic in the friendly sands. Oh, and probably pick up a few goodies in their raw food grocery store. It's a little town of surfers, hikers and all around kind hippies - I fit right in. See you soon!
- 1 cup (90 grams) oats
- 1 cup (110 grams) cashews
- 2 cups (350 grams) dates
- 1/4 cup cacao (25 grams), more or less
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) melted coconut oil
- pinch of salt
fruit kebabs with chocolate
You can use a bar of dark/raw/vegan chocolate if you don't mind and you have it on hand, but the first option is to make your own raw chocolate which simply requires cacao, coconut oil and some liquid sweetener. If you don't have those, alternatives abound; you can use cocoa instead of cacao, nut butter or cocoa butter instead of coconut oil, and really any sweetener you like, such as raw honey, agave, maple syrup, date paste, or even raw sugar. As far as the fruit goes, you can use whatever you want. I place these decisions in your worthy (and hopefully attached) hands. I took these photos using my own two hands and Canon EOS Rebel T2i. Love it.
One last thing - give these guys a listen. Solid tunage.
fruit kebabs with chocolate: makes 5 kebabs or so
Fruit:
1 apple
2 mandarins
3 slices of pineapple
and/or any other fruit you may have and want to use
Chocolate:
1/2 recipe of raw chocolate (or a melted chocolate bar)
Slice all the fruit into bite-size pieces and stick on to chopsticks or kebab skewers. Then drizzle with the chocolate. You can let the chocolate harden but I mean REALLY - who has that time? Just eat it right away and bask in the glorious delight this healthy, raw, cruelty-free snack selflessly provides.
raw snickers candy bars
I don't remember what a "real" snickers bar tastes like but I know that they are basically just white sugar... gross. I had a fun time looking around the official snickers website where they claim snickers are "part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle."
LOL.
Let's take a look at the ingredients that make this such a nutritional treasure, shall we? MILK CHOCOLATE (SUGAR, COCOA BUTTER, CHOCOLATE, SKIM MILK, LACTOSE, MILKFAT, SOY LECITHIN, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR), PEANUTS, CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, MILKFAT, SKIM MILK, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL, LACTOSE, SALT, EGG WHITES, CHOCOLATE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR. MAY CONTAIN ALMONDS. Yes. We all know "partially hydrogenated soybean oil" is necessary for fitness excellence. NOT. Anyways, enough with this silliness. On to whole foods chocolate bars!
I got the idea to make this recipe from a reader. These are so freaking tasty, and mostly just - you guessed it - almonds and dates. They are pretty sweet and filling so you probably won't need more than one. Or maybe you will. What do I know? After some quick research (thanks, Wikipedia), I learned snickers bars are defined by a nougat layer topped with caramel and covered in chocolate.
PFF. NO PROBLEM.
Consider these rawified. The nougat layer is raw flour, almonds and a wholesome sweetener of your choosing. Then I made the simplest and most delicious raw caramel ever (anyone can do it, I don't have any special powers) by blending dates with water, vanilla and a pinch of salt. Finally I threw together some raw chocolate and covered the bars in it. I am impatient so I did not wait for them to harden but in theory - they should.
Nougat layer:
1/2 cup raw flour (such as oat, coconut, buckwheat, almond, etc.)
1/3 cup raw agave/maple syrup
1 cup sliced almonds
1/4 pine nuts (optional)
Caramel layer:
1 cup dates and enough water to cover them
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
Raw chocolate coating:
Just use your fave recipe or my own
To make the nougat: pulse the flour, pine nuts (if using) and sweetener together in your food processor until smooth. Add the almonds by hand. Shape into small logs on parchment paper and put in the freezer.
To make the caramel: blend all ingredients together in your blender until creamy and thick, adding the least amount of water you can. spread a little on to the tops of each nougat log and put back in the freezer.
When they are frozen enough, cover each one in chocolate and let harden in the freezer or fridge. Enjoy!
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