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.
Maybe you’ve tried black bean brownies, or even sweet potato brownies, well today I bring to you the latest in odd but delicious renditions of the classic fudge brownie. These double chocolate hazelnut lentil brownies are chewy, rich, dark and luxurious they’re swoon worthy with a dollop of whipped coconut cream or vanilla ice cream. It’s pretty hard to eat too many since they are so packed with protein and they’re also flourless.
I’ve invented these for a special lentil recipe contest, I wanted to create something decadent, a recipe that could trick people into believing they aren’t eating something healthy. Success! Mission accomplished as J, a hater of all sneakily healthy things, had no problem devouring these brownies. Red lentils are really adaptable, I didn’t want the brownies to be dry so I cooked the lentils first and then blended them into a smooth puree, this way they add moisture instead of take it away.
½ C red lentils, cooked in about 1½ C water until very soft, about 15 min.
2 eggs
½ C butter, melted
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 C brown sugar or raw coconut sugar
½ C cocoa powder or raw cacao powder
½ C mini chocolate chips
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp sea salt
1 C roasted hazelnut pieces
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare a 28x18x4 rectangular baking dish lined with parchment
Strain any excess water from the lentils and add to a blender or food processor, pulse until smooth, next add the eggs, butter,vanilla and sugar and again blend until smooth and frothy.
In a large bowl mix together the cocoa powder, salt and baking soda, add the liquid lentil mix to this and stir well.
Add in the nuts and chocolate chips and fully incorporate, pour the batter into your prepared dish and bake for 30-35 minutes, insert a toothpick to check for doneness, if it comes out clean the brownies are ready.
It's best to allow the brownies to set in the fridge for a few hours or overnight before serving. Cut into squares and enjoy!
3.2.2885
I’m such a sucker for a good brownie, I hope you love these as much as I do.
Excuse me for being obsessed with chocolate this week, you see I was without my beloved cacao for some time and I’ve finally replenished my stocks. Raw cacao is the ultimate in magnesium density, in other words, it relieves stress and helps release happy hormones, yay!
The chocolate week isn’t over yet, in the next few days you are going to witness a marvel of brownies- the lentil brownie.
But not today. Today is reserved for this luscious, creamy, caffeinated pudding loaded with chia goodness. Coconut mocha chia pudding may just be your new favourite breakfast or mid-day pick me up. I’m pretty much in love with the coffee, chocolate combination– nothing beats it.
Chia seeds are nutrient dense, high in omega-3’s and they can turn any liquid into a pudding, so what’s not to love. Well they aren’t easy to clean up when you leave a spoonful on the table and your little baby reaches up and pulls it down.
If you are in search of foods that will give you more energy and focus, this pudding is for you. There’s definitely a certain time of the month for me where my energy starts to go down the drain and I just want to eat chocolate…ladies, ya feel me?
Yesterday I wallowed while watching the hollywood version of Anna Karenina, which by the way, is pretty terrible. You know when you have tons of work to do, but you just don’t want to do it…yeah netflix is an instigator.
But the cure for all wallowing lies in chocolate, so I will continue to share with you loves my fave choco-freak recipes to inspire your inner energy to shine~ !!!
You, me, four ingredients (!) and a bottle of wine, sound like a good date?
In honour of love, post valentines day love, I challenge YOU to make these for someone just.because.
Yeah, I’m a bit of a rebel…
I’m also a little sugar addict, yes I try and make healthy-er treats, but I know a sugar is a sugar is a sugar. Time for a little spring cleaning here soon folks. Whole 3o time? Perhaps I’ll wait it out see if it snows one last time, I’m guess it will, and I’m guessing cupcakes will be in order to quell those winter-almost-spring doldrums. Any plans for spring cleansing? Is it even spring yet?
These little truffles of love are absolutely the creamiest most closest thing to eating pure nutella out of the jar that you can get. Except that I didn’t actually use nutella, as it’s filled with a whole bunch of questionable ingredients.
Instead I started with making a butter from roasted hazelnuts and when it got really smooth and creamy I added melted dark chocolate and some coconut cream, a little bit of raw honey to sweeten the deal. Easy right? You could make this post valentines treat for your lover, your neighbour, your cat…okay maybe not your cat, in about 30 minutes. Ta da!
Oh and if you want something a little more involved but still reminiscent of eating nutella out of the jar, check out my homemade ferrero rochers, or better yet my homemade nutella!
2 C roasted hazelnuts, ½ C crushed and reserved for coating the truffles
¾ C dark chocolate, melted over a double boiler
3 Tbs coconut cream or milk
1 Tbs raw honey
Instructions
In a high powered blender or food processor, blend the hazelnuts until smooth and creamy, you may have to scrape the sides throughout.
Add coconut cream and honey to melted chocolate and incorporate.
In a large bowl combine hazelnut butter with chocolate mixture and pop in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
When the mixture is workable but not too soft, scoop 1 Tbs onto a piece of parchment and roll into a ball, coat with extra crushed hazelnuts and repeat.
Let the truffles set in the fridge for an hour or so before indulging.
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!
3.2.2885
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!
Oh God, I gave my baby sugar, have I created a monster?
I was enjoying one of these delicious cookies and he was screaming his face of with jealousy, I just had to give him some, and after that he was as content as could be.
Truth is, no one can resist cookies like these, there’s no measuring, no dough sitting in the fridge for an hour before you can use it. Literally you just throw 4 or 5 ingredients together (depends whether you want chocolate or not) and presto, chewy, rich and moist cookies. I’m not much of a traditionalist baker so these types of cookies are totally my thang.
Making almond butter is really easy, and can save quite a bit of money considering how expensive it can be, especially organic. I always buy raw nuts in bulk quantities to make things more affordable. Good food can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. You can easily make any nut butters in a good food processor, but I’ve got a vita-mix so that’s what I’m going off, the trick to making smooth almond butter in the vitamix is to not process too many almonds at one time. Around a cup of roasted almonds is usually all I do in the blender or it tends to overheat and shut down.
Spread raw almonds on a baking tray and roast until golden and fragrant, about 15 minutes. Toss them around the pan at the midpoint so they don't burn.
When the almonds have cooled, add half to the vitamix and blend until you achieve a coarse mealy texture. Add salt.
Next you'll want to keep the vitamix on just below medium speed and use your plunger to push the almond meal down the sides until you start to get a really smooth butter. The longer you blend the smoother your butter will be. Repeat as many times as needed for however many batches you want to make. Roughly 2 cups raw almonds will equate to about a cup of almond butter.
There you have it, pretty easy and definitely better than store-bought. Isn’t it the worst when you buy almond butter and you can tell its been sitting on the shelves for a little too long, major bummer. Plus the smell of roasted nuts is almost as great as the smell of freshly baked cookies.
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.
