Hey it’s Sunday so I’m going to include a little playlist with my favourite jams lately. Perhaps the sweet sounds will inspire you to try these super simple addictingly delicious chocolate bars.
If your anything like me Sundays are a day for enjoying life’s sumptuous indulgements. Like loud music and luxuriating in the kitchen, lilting around in the sun and day dreaming about what’s to come. My dad got mad at me this morning for talking to him about work “I’m trying to enjoy my Sunday why are you talking to me about work?”…Ooops sorry pops, my bad.
Too bad we live so far away or I’d give him some of these yummy chocolate bars too make up for it. Holy you guys, these are too good-literally I was thinking it would be economical to make my own raw chocolate bars but these are not going to last long. There’s always something about making your own chocolate, even if its as simple a recipe as this is. You could also just smash it all up and you’ll have chocolate bark if your feeling frisky.
With all the amazing benefits of coconut oil, raw cacao and raw honey this is some seriously nutrient dense chocolate. I read lately that they did a study comparing theobromine, a component in chocolate, to fluoride in repairing tooth enamel. Theobromine is actually more effective in rebuilding enamel than fluoride! Hopefully in the future our water supply will be spiked with theobromine instead of toxic fluoride.
So…it’s almost the official day where we celebrate all things love with all things high fructose corn syrup.
I gotta say I’m a bit of a cynic when it comes to V-day, I mean really roses and chocolates on one day of the year?! Hallmark and cheap candy and so much PINK, bleh.
But at the same time I can’t help but use any excuse to make treats, and I do have fond memories of scooby doo and smurf valentine cards from 12 year old boys making my heart go pitter patter way back when. My momma would always give us sweet little cards too, which was really sweet. I think I’ll carry on that valentines tradition and just skip the cinnamon hearts and those weird chalk memo hearts, sorry but…those are nasty.
Any excuse to make a sexy meal is great news too, I love how people get all into the juicy steaks and fancy lobster dinners. But again, these should really be a common occurrence, in a perfect world. I love this roundup of super lovey dovey meals to please your man that the lovely Elizabeth at three beans on a string compiled, check ’em out here.
If you want a special little treat without any weird corn syrup solids and all that junk, give these raw creamy chocolate tarts with caramel hazelnut crust, god that’s a mouthful, but they are so freaking good I didn’t want to skip any points in the description. My winter sweet tooth is the worst, the lack of fresh salads over time translates into a deep craving for all things chocolate. These are worth it, and one little tart is plenty to satisfy, if you have the will power to have just one. These are no bake, but not completely raw unless you opt to use raw hazelnuts, in which case, soak for 6 hours before hand. I used roasted hazelnuts, but I still say they’re raw tarts, as you don’t have to bake them (please forgive me rawtarians).
Raw Creamy Chocolate Tarts with Caramel Hazelnut Crust
Author: Chantelle
Serves: 12
Ingredients
¾ C date paste or mejool dates,pitted
1 C roasted or raw hazelnuts, if raw soak for 6 hrs. prior to using
½ tsp sea salt
1 C raw cashews, soaked for 6hrs.
1 Tbs+2 Tbs coconut oil
2 Tbs coconut butter
2 Tbs raw honey or maple syrup
2 Tbs water
1 raw chocolate bar or ½ C chocolate chips, melted over a double boiler.
Instructions
In a blender or food processor add hazelnuts, dates,one Tbs coconut oil and salt, pulse until thoroughly combined.
Line a muffin tin with cupcake papers and scoop about 1 Tbs mixture into each, press crust down evenly.
Rinse out your blender or food processor and add drained cashews, 2 Tbs coconut oil, coconut butter, honey and water. Blend on high until super smooth.
Top each tart with a dollop (tsp) melted chocolate
Allow tarts to set for 2hrs. before indulging, if you can wait that long!
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How do you feel about valentines day? I hope you all get smothered with love, hugs and kisses, but I hope that for you everyday!
I really think your going to thoroughly enjoy this creation, my friends. Seriously, if apple pie walked into a bar, met a caramel apple, fell in love, these bars would be their babies. Yep, that’s my best analogy of the day, except these babies are a million times easier and way healthier than either of the latter apple treats.
So if you like easy, delicious, high protein treats, without any added sugar you’ve come to the right place.
The base for these bars is really similar in texture to a thick chewy caramel. I’m curious if I could somehow maguiver it around a whole apple and stick a twig in it for paleo friendly caramel apples. This invention just might have to happen.
Yesterday I went for a long drive to the neighbouring village to visit some friends. There’s a dead zone where no radio stations work and I drove in sweet stillness enjoying a crisp fresh apple. Grateful for the moment of quiet and peace with the solitary sounds of a crunching orchestra of sweet and refreshing delight. I don’t know about you, but this is the time of year where I start craving fresh fruit, dreaming of plump berries freshly picked, and sweet juicy peaches. Apples will have to do for now, as none of those luscious fruits are any good out of season. Groundhog says 6 more weeks of winter, we’re almost there, before you know it this blogs pages will be brimming with juicy fruits and vibrant greens!
Until then, enjoy the delightful sweetness of an apple enveloped in this caramel goodness, yum.
Bloobs, my affectionate pet name for one of the best berries on the planet. Blueberries.
Antioxidants rich, delicious, and blue, rare for any food. These blueberries and cream truffles are dead easy and so good. They’re really affordable when you make your own luscious coconut butter. These truffles are not only nomtastic but also pretty healthy, were talking ample fibre and healthy fats from the coconut paired with antioxidant rich bloobs and dark chocolate.
1 C fresh blueberries (you can also use frozen just thaw them out first)
3 tbsp raw honey
½ C paleo friendly raw chocolate or chocolate chips
Instructions
Melt coconut butter in a double boiler or water bath.
In a high powered blender or food processor, combine coconut butter, berries and honey.
In your double boiler or water bath, melt the chocolate.
Use a small size ice cream scoop to make little blueberry balls and coat with melted chocolate.
Allow to set in the fridge for at least an hour if you can wait that long!
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It was my birthday on Saturday, I almost made myself a cake, almost. But I succumbed to laziness and opted to eat ice cream instead. It was a fun day and I would tell you how old I am but…it’s a secret.
A woman’s age is best kept a mystery anyhow.
The next day, was my fathers birthday and also the day my little babe took his first wee steps. How very exciting!
I had NO idea making coconut butter was so darn easy. Really, seriously, easy. I feel silly for having bought it all these years, the same way I feel about buying broth or sauerkraut. If I can make it from scratch with minimal effort IMMA MAKE IT. Okay off my soapbox, this creamy, luscious coconut butter was made in my handy dandy vitamix but you can also make it using a food processor.
Coconut butter, if you aren’t familiar with it, is quite different from the oil. It’s made by “creaming” the flesh of the coconut to make a smooth butter. When you refrigerate it, the fats from the coconut solidify and your butter gets quite hard. A fine example of the healthy saturated fat present in coconut. If you’re curious about the benefits of coconut, check this out, they are many.
In a high powered blender or food processor add coconut flakes and blend on medium until they start to get creamy, turn to high setting until you have a smooth butter. For an extra smooth coconut butter, process through a fine mesh sieve. Store in the fridge, lasts a very long time.
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What to do with coconut butter? Here’s a list of ideas…
I’m stoked, finally after many attempts I have made successful crackers! These little crunch bombs are bloody addictive and reminiscent of the long forgotten vegetable thin- only way better. These are totally adaptable you guys, so if your not into toasted cumin you prefer rosemary or sesame or onion, you could definitely subtract the cumin and add those in, respectively. I adore the brilliant yellow turmeric imparts, not too mention the various health benefits. Toasted cumin gives these bright yellow crackers an Indian flare and reminds me of my beloved pappadam. Paleo and vegan cheese and crackers shazzam everyone is pleased!
The green goddess cashew cream cheese is the perfect accompaniment to these crackers and it’s a cinch to whip up. Did you know raw cashews are great for alleviating depression and anxiety? Cashew cheese makes me happy! This green goddess version is spiked with green onion and cilantro, and of course garlic, it didn’t last very long in our house. The cashew cheese is also really nice smothered on sourdough toast or as a sandwich base.
Being the spaz that I am, I often forget key kitchen tools like, all the time, case in point, parchment paper. This is why my other cracker attempts flopped into a sea of crumbs. You need parchment to roll the crackers out, the dough is just way too sticky to not have a protective parchment barrier below and above. Aside from that, anyone can whip up the toasted cumin and turmeric crackers. The good news, like most health freaks, I do not own a dehydrator (not that I don’t want one) SO these crackers won’t take 800 hours, they bake up just perfect in under 15 minutes, presto.
For cashew cheese 1 C RAW cashews, soaked for minimum 2 hours, drained
1 Tbs lemon juice
2 garlic cloves
2 Tbs olive oil
½ tsp salt
handful chopped green onion
handful chopped cilantro
Instructions
Heat oven to 350F
For the crackers, combine dry ingredients in a large bowl, almond meal, tapioca flour, salt and turmeric.
When the flax is egg like and viscous in texture (about 30 mins of soaking) combine it with olive oil and toasted cumin.
Mix into the dry ingredients until thoroughly combined. Separate into two equal parts.
Roll out one section of dough between 2 pieces of parchment until its about ⅛ inch thick. Use a pizza cutter to gently trace squares or diamond shaped crackers. Transfer bottom parchment to a baking sheet and repeat this process with the other half of dough.
Bake @350F for 12-15 minutes until golden brown. Let crackers cool before serving.
For the cashew cheese, combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender until smooth
Hey I'm Chantelle, my alter ego would be a mermaid if I wasn't such a terrible swimmer. I love writing authentically and cooking in my pyjamas. My favourite pastimes include eating avocados, travelling the world and hanging out with a toddler.
