Desserts

Double Chocolate Sunflower Seed Energy Balls

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Double Chocolate Sunflower Seed Energy Balls

Ingredients

  • 2 cups raw sunflower seeds
  • 2 cups medjool dates
  • 2 Tbsp raw coconut oil
  • 2 Tbsp filtered water
  • 1/3 cup raw cacao powder
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp ceylon cinnamon
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla
  • 1/3 cup raw cacao nibs

Procedure

  1. Gather your food processor and add sunflower seeds, salt, cinnamon, and raw cacao powder. Process until you reach a flour consistency.
  2. While continuing to process, add coconut oil and medjool dates one at a time.
  3. Add filtered water and vanilla. You may need to add more water depending on the consistency.
  4. Pulse in raw cacao nibs.
  5. Roll batter into balls and roll in additional cocoa nibs if desired. Store balls in the freezer.

Nutrition Tip

There are 5 amazing benefits of raw cacao that I am going to share with you today. Remember raw cacao is not processed with chemicals, this is cocoa in its purist, most nutrient dense form.

1. 40 Times the Antioxidants of Blueberries. – Raw Organic Cacao has over 40 times the antioxidants of blueberries.  It has an amazing ORAC score of 98,000 per 100g, vs blueberries at a mere 2,400.  ORAC scores measure the ability of antioxidants to absorb free radicals which cause cell and tissue damage and can lead to diseases such as cancer.

2. Highest Plant-Based Source of Iron- Cacao is the highest plant-based source of iron known to man, at a whopping 7.3mg per 100g.  This compares to beef and lamb at 2.5mg, and spinach at 3.6mg.  Note the iron in cacao is non-heme as it is plant based so it is not the same quality as animal sources of heme iron.

3. Full of Magnesium for a Healthy Heart & Brain-Raw Organic Cacao is also one of the highest plant-based sources of magnesium, the most deficient mineral in the Western world.  Magnesium is important for a healthy heart, and helps turn glucose into energy enabling your brain to work with sharp clarity and focus.  

4. Excellent Source of Calcium

5. A Natural Mood Elevator and Anti-Depressant-Cacao is a great source of four scientifically proven bliss chemicals – serotonin, tryptophan, tyrosine and phenylethylamine.  These neurotransmitters are associated with cosy feelings of wellbeing, happiness, and can even alleviate depression.  A natural, healthy, and delicious way to elevate your mood.

Grain Free Nut Free Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies

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Grain Free Nut Free Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Ottos cassava flour
  • 1 cup organic Tigernut flour
  • 1 cup organic gf/df chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup organic coconut shreds
  • 1 1/2 cups coconut sugar (for sugar free you can sub with 100 percent monk fruit with no fillers)
  • 2 pastured eggs
  • 1/3 – 1/2 cup ghee, melted
  • 1 Tbsp pure vanilla (alcohol free)
  • Pinch sea salt

Procedure

  1. Preheat oven to 325F
  2. Gather a large mixing bowl and combine all the dry ingredients.
  3. Add the wet ingredients and using your hands, knead dough until all ingredients have been combined. (you want a dry batter to prevent cookies from spreading while cooking)
  4. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and form dough into small balls. Spread out evenly on your baking tray and press down with a wet fork.
  5. Bake for 10 min or until golden. Let cool before transferring to a glass storage container. These cookies can be frozen for up to 2 months.

Nutrition Tip

Ottos cassava flour is a godsend if you are someone following a low histamine, MCAS friendly diet. Ottos cassava flour is the only cassava flour that I have found that is NOT fermented. Crazy huh? Who would have thought that a root vegetable flour would need to be fermented! Cassava is an excellent source of carbohydrates, fibre, vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. This delicious root vegetable also contains 25 percent protein! No wonder this satiating food is a staple in so many parts of the world.

If you are looking for a sweet treat while following a therapeutic diet, look no further than these nutrient dense, flavourful cookies!

Pumpkin Spice Banana Loaf

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Pumpkin Spice Banana Loaf

Ingredients

  • 3 ripe bananas
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 8 pastured eggs
  • 10 medjool dates, pitted
  • 1 tbsp vanilla
  • 1 tbsp Ceylon cinnamon, plus 1 tsp for garnishing
  • 1/8 tsp ground clove
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • pinch sea salt
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil – melted
  • 1 -1/2 cups cassava flour

Procedure 

  1. Preheat oven to 350F
  2. Combine banana, pumpkin puree, eggs, dates, coconut oil, vanilla, sea salt, and spices. Blend until pureed. 
  3. Add cassava flour and process until combined.
  4. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and pour batter and smooth with a spatula.
  5. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake for 45-55 min or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Nutrition Tip 

Cassava is a very nutrient dense, starchy root that is rich in fibre and resistant starch – an excellent food for our microbiome. Cassava may contribute four times less digestible sugar, and up to 16 times more fibre, giving it a lower glycemic load than many grains. 

This food has been historically eaten in many developing countries, but has become a popular stable in homes that follow a grain free lifestyle. 

Recipe: Gogi Berry Energy Balls

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Recipe: Gogi Berry Energy Balls

Ingredients 

  • 1 1/2 cups organic gogi berries 
  • 1 1/2 cups coconut shreds – divided 
  • 1/4 cup manuka honey 
  • 2 tsp vanilla 
  • pinch sea salt 
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 20 small parchment paper cups

Procedure

  1. Combine gogi berries, coconut oil. vanilla, honey, and sea salt into a food processor. Blend until your ingredients become a paste. 
  2. Add 1 cup of coconut shreds and process until combined. 
  3. Pour the additional 1/2 cup of coconut shreds onto a cutting board. Roll gogi berry mixture into small balls and cover in coconut shreds. 
  4. Place balls into a parchment paper cup and store in the fridge or freezer. 

Nutrition Tip 

What makes gogi berries so good for us? 

Gogi berries are often referred to as a superfood, because of the array of phytochemical that exist within them. There has been a great deal of research done on one particular antioxidant found in Gogi berries called, Zeaxanthin. Research shows that this miraculous antioxidant has the ability to improve vision! 

Zeaxanthin protects the eyes from oxidative damage caused by UV light,  acts as a free radical scavenger, and combats inflammation. 

Gogi berries don’t only contain this solo antioxidant – they are also packed with vitamin C, beta carotene, polysaccharides, and carotenoids. These strong compounds all work together to lower inflammation, improve immune functioning,  and protect us against cancer. 

If learning all that wasn’t enough to convinced you to try these delicious gogi berry balls, I’ll give you a few other recommendations on how you can include them in your diet. 🙂 

  1. Add Gogi berries to raw paleo granola. 
  2. Add to raw trail mix. 
  3. Add a handful of gogi berries to your smoothie and blend into your smoothie, or add them as a smoothie topping for a little crunch. 
  4. Add to homemade coconut yogurt. 

I would love to hear your favourite way to add Gogi berries to your diet! 

Recipe: Muesli Scones

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These Muesli scones are packed with the parent omega 6 fatty acid - Linoleic Acid.  This fatty acid is found in abundance in sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid that we must obtain from our diet. Adding seeds to your diet is an excellent way to ensure you are providing your body with the building blocks that it needs to function at its very best.

Yield - 14 large scones

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups almond flour
  • 1 1/2 cup cassava flour - divided
  • 8 pastured eggs
  • 1/2 cup ghee, melted
  • 1 cup honey
  • pinch sea salt
  • 2 Tbsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 cups sunflower seeds
  • 2 cups pumpkin seeds
  • 1 cup dried cranberries

Procedure

  1. Preheat oven to 350F
  2. Gather a large mixing bowl and add all dry ingredients. Next, add the eggs, ghee, honey, and vanilla. Stir until combined.
  3. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and form dough into scones. Bake for 25-27 min or until scones are done.
  4. Serve with your favourite coffee or tea.