Chocolate Pie

Photo: Paleo Magazine

Paleo Magazine's, Oct/Nov 2013 issue gives us this amazing chocolate pie with a raw graham cracker-like crust.  It is so easy to make and so delicious you'll be proud to serve it to guests.  It offers a perfect ending to any meal.

Crust Ingredients:

• 1 cup walnut halves and pieces
• 1/4 cup soft, pitted Medjool dates
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• pinch of sea salt

Filling Ingredients:

• 1 cup coconut cream*
• 1/2 cup soft, pitted Medjool dates
• 3 oz dark chocolate, melted
• 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

* use the cream at the top of a can of separated full-fat coconut milk that has been refrigerated over night or "Let's Do...Organic" brand organic coconut cream.

Directions:

1. To make the crust, in a food processor with an "S" blade purée all crust ingredients for about 20 seconds or until very fine.
2. Transfer the crust mixture to a glass pie dish and press it across the bottom and halfway up the sides.
3. Rinse the food processor.
4. In a small saucepan heat the coconut cream just slightly.
5. In the food processor add the heated coconut cream to the remaining filling ingredients and purée for 1 minute or until the filling is dark and completely smooth.
6. Pour the filling over the crust and chill to set.
7. Store the pie at room temperature.

Spiced Hot Chocolate

Photo: Yunhee Kim

I'm posting this before I've made it.  I think it will be amazing, though.  I'm currently 6 days into a 45-day sugar fast and don't think I should try and justify the chocolate...

My recipe is inspired by Whole Living's Spiced Hot Dark Chocolate.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond, raw whole, or coconut milk
• 1/2 cinnamon stick
• freshly grated nutmeg
• pinch cayenne, +/-
• pinch ground cardamom
• 1 oz dark (>80%) chocolate, chopped

Directions:

1. Bring all ingredients to a simmer.  
2. Remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 10 minutes.  
3. Whisk in chocolate until smooth and creamy.

Enjoy!

"Peanut Butter" Cookies

I've been on the hunt for a good cookie recipe that fits in with our new way of eating.  I came across a blog and instantly liked Tara because she was so honest about how her "peanut butter" cookies turned out.  She didn't like them and she told her readers not to make them.  I felt challenged and inspired.

Here is my version of "Peanut Butter" Cookies: 

Ingredients: 

• ½ cup chunky, organic, raw almond butter*
• ¼ cup coconut oil 
• 3t stevia (we use NuNaturals brand NuStevia powder) 
• 1 egg 
• 1 ¼ cups Bob's Red Mill finely ground almond meal/flour 
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• Trader Joe's 73% dark chocolate candy bar, cut into big chunks

• Directions:

1. Cream together 1st four ingredients
2. Stir in flour & salt
3. Drop spoonfuls on ungreased baking sheet
4. Add a chunk of chocolate to the top and press it in a bit 
5. Bake at 350º for about 8-10 minutes

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• The cookies got two thumbs up from the whole family.  Carly, my 12-year old, said they tasted like almond butter.  I take that as a compliment.
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• And in spite of how her cookies turned out, you should check out Tara's blog, Always Underfoot.
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• *we don't eat peanut butter (or peanuts) anymore for a few reasons: they are one of the most common food allergens, they contain anti-nutrient lectins, and are especially susceptible to a mold that produces a mycotoxin called aflatoxin.  Read more about toxic peanuts here.
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