today's blog is all about raw superfood truffles. tasty, gluten-free & full of good things like seeds, nuts, cacao, raw local honey, dates, almond milk & coconut oil. here are 2 recipes today that i tested. first one is a seed bar type, second is a meltaway version. After recipes, read more about the antioxidants found in cacao and its history in Aztec healing rituals as the "Food of the Gods"
In the photo above, by row: (1- cacao nectar coated with cacao powder. 2- cacao nectar decorated with nibs. 3- raw energy balls. 4-cacao nectar with almonds, oats, dates & walnuts coated with chia. 5- cacao nectar with almonds, oats, dates & walnuts coated with coconut.)
raw energy superfood "birdseed" balls
1/4 c. cacao nibs
1/3 c. flax seeds
1/3 c. chia seeds
1/2 c. raw unsalted pepitos (pumpkin or hemp) seeds
1 c. walnuts
1/4 c. coconut flakes (unsweetened)
1/2 c. raisins
1 c. dates (around 12-14)
2 T. coconut oil
2 T. raw local honey (use less for a crunchier bar)
mix together ingredients in a food processor on low. roll into balls -or- press into a pan and cut after chilling in the fridge (they also can be pressed into molds if you prefer). you can optionally coat on one side with raw chocolate or cacao "nectar." leave in fridge for at least an hour to set before serving. was very crumbly
cacao nectar truffles
1/2 c. cacao powder
1/4 t. pink himalayan salt
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. nutmeg
1/4 c. almond -or- coconut milk
1 c. almond -or- cashew butter
2 t. mexican vanilla
3 T. raw local honey
1/3 c. coconut flakes (unsweetened)
1/2 c. maca (optional, or replace this qty with almond meal, chopped nuts or oats)
mix together ingredients with a blender on medium. leave for 2 hours in fridge to set, then roll in coconut flakes, seeds, nuts or dip one side in cacao powder. keep in fridge overnight to set before serving.
the failed experiment:
dates & walnuts
almond meal
coconut flakes
stone cut oats
cacao powder
vegan protein powder
coconut oil
nutmeg & cinnamon
ok so this last recipe didn't work at all. there wasn't enough binding agent to hold everything together & it just looked like dusty mix. i added a cup and half of this stuff to a batch of the "cacao nectar" and fixed it, but i have tons left over. oh wells. at least i am honest when my experiments fail, readers lol. the first 2 recipes today were yummy & awesome, but the last one just bombed lmao. i believe the philosophie people don't test their recipes, fyi.
"Cacao (ka-kow) is a Sacred and Medicinal plant and an ancient teacher and facilitator that assists you with the journey into your heart. Cacao was known to the Ancient Mayans as a powerful heart opener and potent healer.
The Aztecs often spoke of Cacao as ‘yollotl, eztli’, meaning “heart, blood”. Western science reinforced this by giving it the scientific name Theobroma Cacao, which means “The Food of the Gods”. What else would the food of the Gods be but love?
Raw cacao is also the most powerful antioxidant in the world, and is the ONLY known food where you will find therapeutic levels of magnesium and the chemical Anandamide, aka the LOVE chemical. (In Sanskrit, Ananda is translated as ‘bliss’) It results in feelings of pleasure and euphoria and also plays a role in moderating pain perception and memory of pain as well as improving consciousness and creativity as it increases blood flow to the heart and brain by up to 40%.
Cacao, when used with awareness, gives us time and space away from the busyness of the world & an opportunity to go on our own inward journey. Cacao is a gentle plant medicine, acting as a vasodilator on the smooth cardiac tissue, so literally it helps to open our heart. As the anatomical heart space is opened, it creates an opportunity for our energic heart to open as well, offering us an doorway into the places deep within where healing is needed; but it will not push us through until we're ready." - by Jyl M. Kutsche, http://www.jylmarieyoga.com/
2 good recipes out of 3 isn't too bad, readers lol ;) the first 2 recipes taste great. The above recipes were tasted & tested after being modified from recipes found at:
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/plant-based-recipes/raw-super-food-energy-bars-with-cacao/
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-10838/superfood-snack-raw-cacao-maca-truffles.html