Chocolate 'Peanut Butter' Chia Mousse

I'll share another way I use and eat up that amazing chia seed. This time it is more of a dessert. Or a snack or whatever you want to make up of. It is a simple 5 ingredient treat- nothing too crazy- Just a few simple ingredients to whip up and enjoy! There is nothing real inventive with this recipe. Just pairing together a few great flavors to enjoy together. Who doesn't like a little peanut butter (or sunbutter) and cocoa? Some call it the perfect couple. Addicting. Satisfying. And divine. 

Chocolate Chia Mousse Recipe
1 1/2 cup of So Delicious coconut milk beverage (or other non-dairy milk beverage)
1/3 cup of chia seed gel*
1/4-1/3 cup of natural sunflower seed butter (or natural peanut butter)
12-15 drops of vanilla stevia (NuNaturals)
2 TB of raw cacao powder (or baking cocoa works too)

*chia-gel 'recipe'

1. Grind 1 cup of chia seeds in a magic bullet, Vitamix, or smaller food processor (using a blade you would normally use to grind other seeds or whole grains).

2. Pour the chia seed meal into a quart-sized mason jar that you have a secure top for.

3. Fill the rest of the quart jar with pure water (about 2 cups).

4. Shake up the jar and let sit in the fridge ready for use.

In a high powered blender, blend all of the ingredients and then pour into 1 large or 2 smaller glasses to serve up. Super simple and super healthy and delicious. Maybe even better for you than a sugar filled yogurt pick-me-up. This is packed full of greatness to keep you mind and body moving. 

toppings:
fresh or frozen berries
shredded coconut
mini chocolate chips

This recipe picture is a little bit more 'grainy' than when I have made it again and again. If you whip up all of the ingredients in a high powered blender then you will have more of a creamy and whipped up mousse-like texture. Or, just whip it by hand with a whisk if you like it a little more crunchy. A little bit more domesticated and rustic. This is power food. Lots of protein, energy, and yes, it could be called dessert :)

Much love and light to you today! I hope you have a relaxing weekend ahead of you...

Fig Thumbprint Cookies (gluten-free, vegan)

Things have been pretty quiet in my kitchen the past few days. I have been busy creating other things... many homemade Christmas gifts. I would tell you what I was making, but then some of you would not be so surprised on Christmas morning :) Besides gift-making, I have been sewing felt stockings and tree decorating as well. Christmas for sure brings out my inner-artsy-fartsy- do-it-yourself side. It's fun to make the house look pretty and festive too.

But we all know that I can only stay away from the kitchen for so long. Today I decided I needed to get back to baking and make another possible Christmas cookie. I have been making many cookies as of late with liquid stevia and finding them to be quite satisfying. And today I also turned to an addicting sweet treat as of late...

Figs- wonderful figs. They are like candy (especially if you haven't had candy in a long time ;) I found some organic, sun-dried, unsulfured black mission figs at Costco for a really great price (brand is Made in Nature, Black Mission Figs). If you are not a Costco member, I am sure you can find a decent dried fig at your local health store or marketplace. Or you may be really lucky and live in a region where you can find them fresh and freshly dried. If you can, look for figs that are organic and unsulphered to avoid more chemicals. (And, if you are a Costco member, I suggest you search these babies down next time you are there!) Figs have amazing nutritional qualities as well: amazing amounts of potassium, magnesium and dietary fiber. Plus loads of vitamins and an easy way to add another serving of fruit to your life. 

I have not been able to find or make a decent gluten-free version of the famous 'fig newton'. But this cookie does bring all of the fig-lovin' goodness out and is even refined sugar-free. Perfect. So these rustic thumbprints with the topping of figs may be just what you have been looking for to make your gluten-free cookie platter complete this holiday season. 

Fig Thumbprint Cookie Recipe (gluten-free vegan)

2 cups certified gluten-free oat flour *I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Rolled Oats* 

(or grind your own GF rolled oats in a high powered blender or magic bullet to make your own flour)

1/2 cup of gluten-free rolled oats *I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Rolled Oats* 

1/2 cup of organic millet flour

1/2 ts. of baking powder

1/2 ts. of baking soda

1/2 ts. of sea salt

1 TB of chia seed meal

2-3 TB of coconut palm sugar

1/2 cup of organic, room temperature extra virgin coconut oil

zest and juice of half of organic orange (can omit if you like but add 1 more TB of applesauce instead)

5 TB of unsweetened applesauce (I used homemade)

2-3 TB of fig paste (recipe below)

20 drops of NuNaturals pure vanilla stevia

Fig Paste Recipe

1 1/2 cups of chopped dried figs, (stems removed)

1/2 cup to 1 cup of pure water 

Chop up a heaping cup of figs and put in a glass bowl. Cover the figs with 1/2 cup of water or more water if your figs are extra dry. You basically want your figs almost covered in water. Let soak for 30-60 minutes. Then take your figs and water mix and put in a high powered blender or magic bullet and blend on full speed until you get a 'fig paste'. It will look like a thick preserve or butter. You can basically make more or less of this depending on how many figs you chop and how much water you add. If you paste is too liquidy... add a few more figs and blend until it is more pasty.  

For the cookie base: 

In a large bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients together first, then add the coconut oil and the rest of the wet. Mix well with a spatula or your hands. If you need more flour for dusting, use some millet or tapioca flour. Then you should have a nice cookie batter...not too wet or too dry. Add more fig paste if your dough is too dry or crumbly. Then, roll out in your hand small little cookie balls and place them on a parchment papered cookie sheet. Use your thumb or index finger to create a print in the middle of the cookie and then fill the hole with a teaspoon of fig paste.

 

This recipe will make 2-3 dozen cookies depending on your size. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 12-15 minutes. Until your kitchen smells heavenly and they are golden brown.  

Some notes:

-You can use another fruit preserve with this cookie recipe no problem.

-You could dust the cookies with some powdered sugar for serving if you want them to be "more pretty".

-You can sub the millet flour for sorghum or brown rice flour.

-You could leave out the coconut palm sugar or sub in some maple syrup or agave if you prefer. 

These cookies would make a great addition to your Christmas cookie platter or mix. Plus they're super delicate and dainty for any party, tea date or gift. Figs have been thought a delicacy is many ancient cuisines, and they are still around impressing us with their complex flavor and texture. And, this recipe is made with some pretty simple ingredients just so that you can enjoy that true fig-flavor and delicacy. 

Well, I hope you are having a great weekend with lots of holiday fun. Back to my Christmas projects and gift wrapping I go. I guess it's much more what I prefer over going last minute shopping in the crazed malls :) 

Much love to you as always! 

Superfood Cacao Pudding (vegan)

It's simple. It's raw. It's dessert. And, it's good for you. Super-good for you really. The superfoods are just foods that have been used in ancient civilizations for medicinal purposes or extreme nourishment. There are so many benefits listed for each of the foods that it is hard to just list them all together. One of my favorite company's and sites to learn more about the superfoods is at Navitas Naturals. It is so interesting how so many key nutrients can be found in some of these supplementary ingredients. Instead of taking a calcium and iron pill, wouldn't you prefer a pudding treat with chia seeds that have the same benefits? I know I would. And cacao is one of the highest antioxidant powers out there, yes, this is chocolate at it's best, but you are also getting one of the highest dietary supplements of magnesium. Some of these little natural raw ingredients may boost your energy and vitality in life. It may be just the perk you have been looking for to get you to the next level in your health. It is really surprising how yummy it can be too.

This pudding may be a little more textured than you are used to, but the chia seeds and goji berries will not blend to a perfect smooth. Yet, the texture of the pudding is quite satisfying if you ask me. It adds a little pazaz to a simple chocolate pudding. The cashews will cream up very easily after soaking and the sweetness of this pudding is simple, but very satisfying. I hope try this one out, especially if you are curious of how to use and like some of the superfoods. Other than making this pudding, you could use many of the superfood powders in smoothies and cereals.

Superfood Pudding Delite Recipe

1 cup of raw cashews

1 1/4 cup of pure water

1/4 cup of goji berries

1/4 cup of chia seeds

Soak all of the above ingredients in a bowl in the refrigerator for 4 hours, up to 8 hours.

After soaking the above ingredients, pour them into a blender, vitamix, or food processor.

Then add:

1/4 cup of pure cacao powder

1/4 cup of cold hemp milk or coconut milk beverage milk will also work here

1/4 cup of raw agave nectar or raw honey will work here too, but will not be vegan

Then blend for about a minute and add a touch more hemp milk if you want the consistency to be creamier or if the blending process is being stopped because you need more liquid. Start with 1/4 cup of milk and then add more depending on your desire.

It is just that simple. Perhaps you are trying to follow a more raw diet this summer and need something to feed your chocolate cravings. This is it. It's delectable and delicious!

I hope you enjoy... much love to you today!