Raw Chocolate November 16, 2010

Here is a raw chocolate recipe that many many people enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cacao powder
• 1 cup grated cacao butter
• 1 cup ground hemp seed
• 1/2 cup coconut butter
• 1/2 agave or honey
• 1 tbs vanilla powder

Pour contents in a bowl and stir.  Then you have two options, if you have a dehydrator you can stick it in overnight, this will prevent the chocolate from melting.  After you dehydrate it overnight place the chocolate into cupcake sheets and stick in the freezer.  If you don’t have a dehydrator then you can just stick them straight into cupcake sheets and then the freezer.

Chocolate Brownie Balls! February 11, 2010

I’ve had this blog for almost a year and a half and I’ve never posted any desserts!!!  I feel terrible!  Here is a wonderful healthy desert that is quick and easy to make.  You can decide to make them raw if you want to, the option is there.  But I understand that raw cacao is not available to everyone, but 100% cocoa powder is a perfectly find substitute here.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup walnuts
• 1 cup dates
• 1/4 cocoa powder or cacao powder
• coconut flakes (optional)

Put the first three ingredients into the food processor and blend until it starts to homogenize and coagulate.  Then take the mixture and roll them into small balls with your hands.  You can then roll the balls into coconut flakes or set them aside.  When you’re done throw them in the fridge or start eating!  No baking necessary

Now time for the nutritional aspect of the dish.  Walnuts are extremely high in omega 3, which are essential to healthy brain functioning.  Fats such as these also help lubricate the body which aids in regular bowel movements and the prevention of arthritis.

Walnuts and cacao (also known as raw chocolate) have a very high mineral content, but are particularly high in magnesium.  Cacao is actually one of the best sources of magnesium (and antioxidants).  This is important because the Standard American Diet is very deficient in magnesium.  This is because we consume many processed foods, such as white rice, breads, cereals, baked goods and so forth.  Foods that are processed and then ‘enriched’ usually do not have this vitamin added back…hence the nationwide deficiency.

As for the dates, they are a natural sweetener.  Although they are high on the glycemic index, the sugar will release slowly into the blood stream because of the fiber accompanies the sugar.  Dates also have a small amount of vitamins and minerals.  This is unlike other sweeteners that contain no fiber and absolutely NO nutritional value.

So enjoy a chocolate brownie ball, it’s a chocolate desert that you don’t have to feel guilty about eating.

P.S. – I dedicate this blog post to David Wolfe who is the world’s #1 supporter of cacao eating