Category: Raw Treats

Dipped Naked Tiger Nut, Mango & Orange Treats

I recently reviewed the new Naked Organic Peeled Tiger Nuts from The Tiger Nut Company (see here) and wrote that I’d post a recipe using the resulting finer, smoother Tiger Nut Milk pulp. I know you’ve been waiting with bated breath, so here it is!

These fruit balls are packed with energy, protein, essential healthy fats, vitamins and minerals and are moist and tasty with a distinct chocolatey orange flavour.

All ingredients are organic, vegan and gluten-free. All measurements are approximate.

Ingredients

1 Cup Naked Tiger Nut Milk Pulp

1 Cup Dried Mango Pieces + 1/4 Cup Goji Berries*

Both soaked in the juice of 1 small orange

1/4 Cup Golden Linseeds/Flaxseeds, partially ground

1/2 Tbsp Chia Seeds,* very lightly moistened

2 Tbsps Melted Raw Cacao Butter*

2-3 Squares Mini Orange & Goji Raw Chocolate,* grated

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Pulse and process all the above for a few seconds until it comes together.

Take pieces of the mix and roll them into balls.

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Melt the rest of the mini bar of Raw Orange & Goji Chocolate in a bowl over hot but not boiling water, with 1 Tsp of solid Raw Cacao Butter

Dip the fruit balls in the melted chocolate and place in the fridge to set.

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The pulp from the Naked Tiger Nuts makes a much finer, smoother texture than the original Organic Unpeeled Tiger Nuts when making energy balls.

Ps See also my Page of Tiger Nut Recipes

*http://www.therawchocolatecompany.com/

Copyright: Chris McGowan

Review: Taste-Testing The New Naked Organic Tiger Nuts from The Tiger Nut Company

I love Tiger Nut Milk or Horchata. It is sweet and creamy and full of nutrients: Tiger Nuts (tubers really, not nuts) contain protein, fibre, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, multiple vitamins and oleic acid, they’re also a prebiotic which makes for a healthy gut environment in which probiotics can grow (see here for recipe).

We usually make Horchata with unpeeled Organic Tiger Nuts from The Tiger Nut Company* and use the resulting pulp residue to make raw cookies or energy balls, but the pulp can be a bit coarse from the skins. So I was delighted when Ani recently announced their new product: Naked (ie peeled) Organic Tiger Nuts!

I couldn’t wait to try them and to see if they would make as good quality milk as the original Organic Unpeeled and also it would be interesting to see if the pulp was any finer or more versatile.

I used the same recipe for both milks, omitting the vanilla extract I usually add, because I wanted to taste them raw.

Here is the result:

On the left is the original unpeeled milk, on the right the new Naked milk. (Stored in my glass Grip and Go bottles).

Firstly, I noticed that the Naked made roughly 100mls less milk than the unpeeled – about 600mls compared with about 700mls – hardly anything (although it looks in the photos as if it’s the other way round, there was some left over that I put into small jars).

Second, the pulp from the Naked was lighter and slightly finer.

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On the left is the unpeeled, on the right the Naked and for comparison the Chufa de Valencia Tiger Nut Flour.

The milk from the Naked was infinitesimally thinner, but only a regular drinker could notice the difference, and only by tasting one after the other and really thinking about it! My husband couldn’t tell. It was still sweet and creamy.

The pulp from the Naked was much better for baking, easy to use with a much finer texture. We made some Dipped Tiger Nut, Mango & Orange Fruit Treats, which I’ll post later in the week, they were smooth and not at all gritty.

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My son asked if there would be a loss of nutrients, which is a fair point, but the Naked still retain a little of their skin and if it it makes the difference between discarding the pulp because it is too coarse or using the finer Naked pulp, I’d say it balances out pretty well.

All in all, I am delighted with this new product and highly recommend it!  

Ps There are other Tiger Nut Recipes here

Home-2016

Copyright: Chris McGowan

Chilled Sweet Hemp Treats

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Do you ever feel that slump of energy after a stressful morning or feel a craving for something sweet that doesn’t involve ingesting unmentionables or make you feel guilty for whatever reason? Do you have a sweet tooth that just won’t be assuaged by a banana or a smoothie? You have to try these Chilled Sweet Treats!

They are fizzing with energy, can be as sweet as you need and you won’t go on to eat half the batch and spoil lunch or dinner. They are satisfyingly sweet without leaving you craving more, unlike refined processed snacks.

These Treats have the nutty flavour and texture of Raw Shelled Hemp Seeds, Sweet Apricot Kernels and rolled oats as well as the sweetness of dates, raisins or other dried fruit such as apricots. Even my mum loved these and she doesn’t like dates or dried apricots.

So, without further ado, on with the music – what else, but James Bay busking ‘Craving’ in front of Sydney Opera House!– and out with the measuring cups.

Ingredients:

1/3 Cup Sweet Apricot Kernels* – roughly ground

1/3 Cup Shelled Hemp Seeds* + a little for the topping

1 Cup Dried Fruit, I used a combination of Medjool Dates (chopped) and Raisins

1 Tbsp Maple Syrup (optional) or a little apple juice

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

1 Tsp Cinnamon

1 Cup Gluten-Free Rolled Oats

Method

Pulse the Sweet Apricot Kernels, Shelled Hemp Seeds and Dried Fruit a few times until they begin to combine.

Add the Maple Syrup (if using) or apple juice, Vanilla Extract and Cinnamon and process until all combined, forming a ball.

Mix in the oats until well blended in.

Line a baking tray with parchment

Break off small amounts of the mixture, roll into balls and then flatten out into thin circles and place on the try.

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Sprinkle a few Raw Shelled Hemp Seeds on the middle of each circle and press in gently with the back of a teaspoon.

Place in the fridge until they firm up. They will also freeze. Open-freeze them first on a tray before placing them in a container.

Makes about 15, but I think 2 will be enough!

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*http://www.therawchocolatecompany.com/

Copyright: Chris McGowan

Shelled Hemp Seeds: Superfood or Psychogenic?!

imageWould it surprise you that this Spicy Raw Hot Chocolate is made with shelled hemp seeds, as are the Oh-So-Chocolatey Hemp Seed Coins? In fact, milk as well as paper, textiles, rope, plastics and biofuel can all be made from hemp. Paper from hemp is environmentally many times better than paper made from wood (it can be recycled over and over again), and the cultivation of hemp plants uses far fewer chemicals than cotton and 50% less water.

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Hemp is undoubtedly one of the most versatile and environmentally friendly plants on the planet and its fruit are one of the most versatile, healthy seeds for the human body.

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Hemp plants thrive almost everywhere and are grown all over the world including Canada, France and China. Benjamin Franklin grew hemp and The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper.

If This is the Case, Why is Hemp Production Banned in the US?

Oh ok, you want to jump right into it! It’s a good question, the answer to which I, and millions of others, fail to understand.

So let’s deal with the thorny problem of whether or not this reputedly hippy dippy plant is a psychogenic and worthy of being listed in the US under Controlled Substances.

The problem for US authorities since 1950 when the growing of hemp was banned, is that they failed – and continue to fail – to see the difference between Cannibis Sativa L. (hemp) and its sister variety, Marijuana, which comes from the same species but is definitely not the same plant. They are very, very different. Marijuana is 20% psychoactive drug, Hemp 0.3%, and even less when processed into milk or oil.

Therefore, NO, hemp seeds will definitely NOT make you ‘high’! (sorry).

(The US failed, however, to ban hemp products in 1970, and as a result, Americans obtain most of their hemp products via imports from Canada).

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Now We’ve Got That Out of the Way, What are the Health Benefits of Shelled Hemp Seeds?

Ah, now the good bit:

This little seed is so powerful in its health properties, you’ll wonder why you’ve never heard of it or used it before.

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First, the nutritional content:

  • 2-3 Tbsps of hemp seeds contain about 10-11g of protein, providing all 9 amino acids essential for human health.
  • They are one of the most easily digestible sources of protein, not likely to cause bloating when used in protein shakes, unlike whey protein.
  • 25% of the calories is made up of protein, more even than chia or flax seeds (16% – 18%). (Hemp Protein Powder is an efficient way of getting more protein when blended into a shake, useful for post workout recovery).
  • Hemp seeds have a perfect ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 essential fatty acids. Inflammation occurs when there is too much Omega 6.
  • They provide Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphorous, Sulphur, Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Zinc, B Vitamins, Vitamin D and Vitamin E.

Why We Should Eat Shelled Hemp Seeds

Hemp seeds have been shown to have many health benefits,  here are just a few:

  • Hemp seed oil has been used medicinally in China for 3000 years.
  • Because they are high in Gamma-Linolenic Acid, hemp seeds can be effective in reducing symptoms of PMS and Menopause, similar to Primrose Oil. It is believed they may help Regulate Hormonal Imbalances and Reduce Inflammation.
  • They may help reduce the risk of Heart Disease through the dilation and relaxation of blood vessels which lowers Blood Pressure and reduces Inflammation.
  • The ability to Reduce Inflammation can also help with symptoms of Immune Deficiency Diseases.
  • Other benefits include relief from Arthritis, Increased Energy, Normalising Blood Cholesterol, Better Skin.
  • Some studies show hemp oil can improve Eczema and relieve Dry, Itchy Skin.
  • Hemp seeds are more Allergy-Free than many other seeds.
  • They have been used as a treatment for patients with tuberculosis which renders them nutrient-deficient.

 Convinced? I Knew You Would Be! So How Do You Use Hemp Seeds? Here Are Some Ideas:

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Hemp seeds are delicately nutty (a bit like the author!) and can be used to make Hemp Milk, eaten raw when sprinkled on desserts, breakfast cereal/muesli, or blended in smoothies or ‘baked’ into raw treats. There are a number of recipes on the blog. See below or in Menu above for links to other recipes.

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Here is a simple and light breakfast or dessert recipe:

1 Frozen Banana

2 Dried Apricots

1 Small Glass Hemp Milk

Blend until smooth

Pour into a small bowl

Serve with sliced fresh Apricot, Sprinkling of Hemp Seeds & a Blueberry (or 2)

A wonderful, chilled start to a warm Summer’s day (I just know that as soon as I post this, it will be freezing and blowing a gale!)

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There are more recipes using hemp seeds in Nut Milks, Shakes & Smoothies, More Smoothies! and More Raw Treats!

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Thank you to Timelesswheel for providing the prompt for this post!

Next up: Linseeds!

 We buy our hemp protein powder and shelled hemp seeds from http://www.therawchocolatecompany.com/

Sources: Body Ecology, Authority Nutrition, Seed Guides, Dr Axe

Copyright: Chris McGowan

A Sweet Distraction: Almond Apricot Chia Treats

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Mug from The Raw Chocolate Company website.*

These were created the day our beloved piano was going to a new home and we needed a distraction and something sweet! (Ok, I needed the distraction and something sweet – see Ode To Our Piano, a Faithful and Long-Suffering Friend). I apologise that this is a short post, I’m too emotional to write anything sensible!

All ingredients are organic except the maple syrup. Vegan and Gluten-free.

Ingredients

1 Cup Almond Milk Pulp (residue of approx 1L of nut milk)

1/3 Cup Dried Apricots

1/3 Cup Almonds

3  Medjool Dates, pitted

1 Tbsp Chia Seeds*

1 Tbsp Golden Linseeds, partially ground

1 Tbsp solid raw Coconut Oil

1/2 Tbsp Maple Syrup

1/4 Cup Raw Chocolate Mulberry Chips*

Raw Cacao Powder for Dusting (that’s dusting the treats, not the piano)

Method

Place first 5 ingredients in food processor and process for about 30 seconds until it comes together and almonds are chopped into small pieces but not ground.

Add partially ground Golden Linseeds, solid Coconut oil and Maple Syrup and process for a few seconds to mix in and further break up the almonds but still leaving bits for bite.

Add in Mulberry Chips and whizz for a few seconds to mix them in but not pulverize them!

Take small pieces and roll into balls in the palms of your hands, then dust with Raw Cacao Powder.

Place in the fridge for a few minutes to firm up.

Keep in an airtight container in the fridge or freeze for later.

 *http://www.therawchocolatecompany.com/

Choco Almond Truffles

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Every time we make almond or tiger nut milk, we can’t bring ourselves to throw away the leftover pulp – we are of the waste not, want not generation – and it’s become a kind of subconscious challenge to come up with a different recipe everytime!

These came about by accident as often happens. It’s the end of the month and as we searched the cupboard for likely ingredients,  we weighed and measured what happened to be left, which wasn’t very much – it was definitely a case of Old Mother Hubbard finding the cupboard almost bare! – and what was there we used up.

We reached for dried apricots, but found one had gone very mouldy and had to throw the rest away. We went for figs, none left. Dates, 3. No seeds. A quarter cup of almonds was all that was left after making the milk. We even ran out of cases!

 My husband kept saying we couldn’t do it, but I refused to be defeated. Stubborn is my other middle name! He was going to visit our son’s family and I wanted him to take some treats for our daughter-in-law. Try that, what’s in that jar? No, we haven’t any apple juice but we have an orange needs using. So, all in all, these turned out pretty well given the severity of the challenge.

They are little balls of protein, healthy fats, minerals and B vitamins, and taste moist and chocolatey.

But I’ll have to see what my daughter-in-law’s verdict is as I’m a little biased. Husband liked them though!

All ingredients are organic except the Maple Syrup. Makes about a dozen. Vegan, Gluten-free.

Ingredients

Approx. 1 Cup Almond Milk Pulp, squeezed as dry as possible

Half a Cup Raisins

3  Medjool Dates, pitted

Third of a Cup Almonds, ground

Quarter Cup Desiccated Coconut

Quarter Cup Goji Berries* lightly moistened in fresh orange juice + a few dry ones for decoration

2 Tbsps Melted Raw Coconut Oil

2 Tsps Maple Syrup

Small pinch of Pink Himalyan Salt

1 Mini Bar Goji and Orange Raw Chocolate*

1 -2 Tsps melted Raw Cacao Butter*

Method

Process all ingredients except the chocolate and cacao butter until it comes together when you press it.

Form into balls and place in the fridge to firm up while you melt the chocolate.

Melt cacao butter in a bowl over hot – not boiling- water and stir in broken up chocolate bar.

When melted remove from heat and dip treats in, placing them in small cases to keep them from rolling over.

Decorate each with a dry Goji Berry.

Place in fridge.

Keep well in an airtight container in the fridge.

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While I was writing this up on a very wintry sleety Spring day, I was coincidentally listening to James Bay ‘I Need The Sun To Break’ (‘been in the dark for weeks’) then Suede Snowblind came on! Click the links to see the YouTube videos. I need some Raw Hot Chocolate!

*from The Raw Chocolate Company

Copyright: Chris McGowan

Oh-So-Chocolatey Hemp Seed Coins

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Chocolatey Hemp Coins with Spicy Raw Hot Chocolate and The Raw Chocolate Company Chocolate Mulberries*

This recipe is for all of you chocolate fiends who don’t have a particularly sweet tooth but crave a chocolatey something mid-afternoon. They do have a small amount of raw coconut palm sugar in them but as it is low GI and unrefined it doesn’t produce the same sugar rush or have that tooth-rotting sweetness of refined white sugar. They are easy to make, involve no cooking and are full of raw energy, but be warned, less is definitely more! I can only manage 2!

These are a good protein pick-me-up containing hemp seeds and sweet apricot kernels (like mini almonds).

The only possible track to jig along to while making these is Choco Choco Latte, so you can sing your heart out and expend some of that Raw Chocolate energy!

Here goes:

Ingredients:

1/4 Cup Shelled Hemp Seeds*

1/4 Cup Sweet Apricot Kernels*

1/4 Cup Cacao Powder*

1/4 Cup Raisins

3 Tsps Coconut Palm Sugar*

1/4 Tsp Cinnamon

Approx 2 Tbsps Apple Juice

Raw Chocolate Mulberries Snack Pack*

Method

Put the Hemp Seeds and Sweet Apricot Kernels in the food processor and grind them finely.

Add the rest of the dry ingredients and mix well, adding a little apple juice at a time until the mixture is just moist enough to come together but not too wet.

Take small amounts of the mixture and form into little balls then flatten out into coins on some greaseproof paper.

Press a Raw Chocolate Mulberry into the centre of each coin and place in the fridge for a short time to firm up.

What you do with the leftover Raw Chocolate Mulberries is entirely up to you – but I won’t tell if you don’t.

*http://www.therawchocolatecompany.com/

Copyright: Chris McGowan

5 lbs in 5 Days: Results & Final Thoughts

Just a quick post to finish off the juice challenge.  Had a really busy day with my 85 year old mum, my son and my two year old fireball grand-daughter. We are all exhausted – my mum is unused to so much activity, my son is sleep-deprived from a teething baby and had driven the hour and a half to our house, my husband has been preparing house and food all week for the visits as well as driving Mum around,  while our grand-daughter was here, there and everywhere, chatting and playing, completely oblivious to our yawns! I must have read 7 books – most of them belonged to her dad and his sister, so have seen better days, but the oldies are the goodies, as they say…

Foodwise, family visits are never easy when you are doing a juice cleanse, but today was a breeze. My family are used to me juicing by now – my son and grand-daughter also juice regularly – and so I don’t get the pitying looks or the questions about my sanity when they are eating pizza and home-made chips with salad while I just have the salad with a juice.

The two year old is a joy to watch at mealtimes, she loves her food and eats a variety of vegetables, salad and fruit. Yes, she had pizza which she loves, but she also had raw veggies and hummus, delighting in everything she ate. This is because raw salad-stuff, veggies and fruit were introduced from the beginning when she started weaning, she has always chosen her foods and watched them being prepared and soon began helping. Likewise, my grandson used to eat red peppers like apples when he was two and would raid the fridge for raw broccoli!

Having had a blended juice for breakfast, I felt no temptation to eat pizza or chips for lunch. Juicing really does reset your taste buds. I was ready for solid food though, I really needed to chew, and I enjoyed the avocado salad immensely. We had also grown some mung bean sprouts in preparation for my first solid meal.

For ‘afters’ and snacks,  everyone was happy to eat raw treats that had been defrosted (they keep so well),  and both Mum – who doesn’t like anything non-traditional – and the two year old tucked in to Easter Coconut and Almond Truffles, Home-made Raw Chocolate Treats and Chilled Sweet Hemp Treats.

 (In case you were concerned, my husband, son and I managed to sneak the occasional look at the cycling Tour of the Basque country this afternoon! 😉).

But, to the business end of this cleanse: the results. My digestion is calmed, my tendency to snack – however healthily – is calmed,  I have more energy and my itchy skin has calmed down. Last year’s extensive rash has stayed away,* but occasionally I do have a tendency to itchy skin if I stray from what I know keeps me healthy. My left ear and sinus had been blocked for a few days before the cleanse but are completely clear now.

And yes, I lost 5 lbs. (Update: another 1lb gone next day!)

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I hope you gained the results you were looking for or that these posts have encouraged and inspired you to take a step towards a healthier lifestyle.

Celebrate your success and your resolve and Juice On!

*How I was Inspired to Juice My Skin Clear

Copyright: Chris McGowan

5 lbs in 5 Days: Which Path Will You Take?

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Congratulations! You’ve completed the 5 lbs in 5 Days Juice Challenge! How do you feel? Can you see the improvements in your hair, skin, eyes? Do you feel lighter, no bloating, flatter tummy? Are you sleeping better, do you have more energy? Are you more patient with those around you?

Reflect on how you feel for a few minutes and compare and contrast with how you felt before. Do you want to keep this spark, this sense of being really alive, of appreciation and gratitude; do you want to hold on to the pride you are now feeling, the self-esteem?

Well, then, you have a decision to make. Will you continue your plant-based regime, using whole fruits and veg, full of vitamins and minerals; wholegrains, nuts and seeds with their healthy oils, protein and B vitamins?

Will you continue to have at least one juice a day or perhaps have a couple of juice-only days a week?

Or will you travel down the slippery slope and find yourself back eating burgers or pizzas and processed sugary foods? Maybe your family don’t want you to continue? They may with good intentions be concerned about your protein or your calcium but sometimes, seeing you change can be unsettling for them. Perhaps you think you are being a spoilsport because your friends want you to go out for a drink and a takeaway? Or you’re not sure you have sufficient motivation on your own?

In my experience, no amount of talking, explaining or encouragement will win over the sceptics. What does win them over is leading by example.

People will look at you and think, wow, she is looking so healthy, her eyes sparkle, she is so much happier, how do I get to feel like that?

So how do you keep yourself on the path you have chosen? You may have just taken the first step or you may be rebooting after taking a detour. Try to surround yourself with like-minded friends. Keep following this or other plant-based blogs for reinforcement, tips and recipes. Maybe find a Facebook group or Twitter juicers/healthy eaters if your friends are not quite there yet.

Jason Vale* has several books and apps that provide motivation and recipes to help you keep on the straight and narrow. I have tried most of them and can recommend them. I use them often.

If possible, try to spend this weekend continuing to juice but have a large salad as your lunch or evening meal today.

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Sit at the table, eat slowly and chew thoroughly. Appreciate all the flavours and textures. On Sunday, still juice and perhaps have a light soup or something like Stir-fry Veg With Ginger and Avocado (but omit the nuts this time).

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If you eat fish, then steamed or baked salmon and steamed or baked veggies. Try not to over-eat, your eyes will probably be bigger than your stomach! Keep grains to a minimum to begin with, every other day, after the weekend. Ease back into eating wholefoods gradually, your digestion will appreciate it!

If you’re a parent of young children, just watching you juice every day will make it the norm and will go a long way in helping you to maintain your healthier lifestyle. Letting them choose the ingredients and help with the juicing will reap benefits in the long term. The 2 toddlers in our family are already avid juicers. (If they are very young, be sure to dilute it well). Introducing more fruit and veg by being creative or ingenious – or downright sneaky! – will provide more variety in their diet and keep them healthier. Spiralising is a great idea, such fun for kids to watch and test the results.

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Replacing sugary ice lollies or ice-cream with real fruit frozen smoothie lollies or banana, cacao or peanut butter nice-cream will help wean them off so much refined sugar. Or look at the raw treats recipes on this or other blogs.

L to R: Sweet potato brownies, Grab yourself a slice of energy, home-made raw chocolate, Spicy Orange Fruit Balls, Go-Go Berry Fudge. 

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For more help see I Feel Good- What Now?

You are Amazing! Keep it up!

*http://www.juicemaster.com/

Copyright: Chris McGowan

Easter Coconut & Almond Truffles

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So good to have some sun again after weeks of rain!

These Raw Truffles were made from the pulp left over from the almond milk this morning. (See Almond Milk Recipe). The pulp was left wet and everything was done in the processor. Very quick and simple.

Ingredients

Leftover Pulp fom just under a Litre of Almond Milk

1/2 Cup Raisins

1/2 Cup Desiccated Coconut

4 Dates

1 Tbsp Chia Seeds*

1 Tbsp Raw Organic Coconut Oil

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

1 Tsp Maple Syrup

For Dusting (Optional): Desiccated Coconut, Finely Chopped Almonds, Raw Cacao Powder*

Method

Process everything until it comes together and you can press it into balls. It doesn’t take long. Place in the fridge in an airtight container and they’ll keep well.

Some garden photos to celebrate Spring!

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Love the smell of hyacinths

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Nesting materials for the birds – we have a pair of robins, several blackbirds, goldfinches, sparrows, blue tits, great tits and a pair of wrens! Idea from Pioneering the Simple Life.

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*http://www.therawchocolatecompany.com/

Copyright: Chris McGowan