Nutty Treat!

Nuts for Easter

It's Easter time and yes, everyone needs to indulge a little bit, but it doesn't have to be all bad. Try these little no-bake required macaroons that are yummy for everyone and if you want to have a little fun, shape them into some egg shapes and serve them up for Easter dinner dessert! Or better yet...pair them with your morning coffee...mmmm....macaroons.

Ingredients:

1/4 Cups Room Temperature Coconut Oil

1 Cup Coconut Flakes

1/2 Cup Sliced Raw Almonds (or you can toast them a bit yourself for some extra flavour)

1/4 Cup Macadamia Nuts, crushed into chunks

1/4 Cup Raw Honey

1/2 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

Sea Salt

1. In a medium sized bowl, combine the coconut flakes, almonds, macadamia nuts, and a couple pinches of sea salt to taste. Stir the ingredients until well combined.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, vanilla, and raw honey.
3. Take the liquid mixture and pour it over the dry ingredient mixture and mix immediately together until well combined. The texture should be sticky and slightly stiff, just holding the ingredients together.
4. Take half of the mixture and put it into your food processor and pulse to break up the larger pieces. Then set it to puree to create a smooth paste, about 20 seconds should do it - do not go more than a paste texture or else it will be too runny.
5. Take your paste and mix it back in with the other half of the chunky mixture and stir together well.
6. Form into little 2" balls, packed tightly to hold together and place on a small sheet pan that is lined with parchment paper. Make sure they don't roll around.
7. Chill in the fridge for about 2 hours and they should be set and ready to serve!

Groovy Granola

GROOVY GRANOLA

This is another great snack idea to have on hand for when you get the munchies. They are, what some call "moreish" - meaning when you start eating it, you want more! The seeds and nuts can be interchanged with any of your favourite nuts or seeds - you can even switch out the cranberries for another favourite dried fruit as well. 

Ingredients
1 Cup Raw & Slivered Almonds
1 Cup Macadamia Nuts
1 Cup Chopped Pecans
1 Cup Unsalted Sunflower Seeds (hulled)
1 Cup Raw Pepitas (Pumpkin Seeds hulled)
1 Cup Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
1 Tbsp Flax Seeds
1/4 Cup Sesame Seeds
1 Cup Organic Dried Cranberries
1/4 Cup Raw Honey
1/4 Cup Butter Unsalted
1/8 Tsp Ground Cloves
1/8 Tsp Ground Nutmeg
1/2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
Cacao Nibs (optional)

Method
In a bowl beat the eggs until they are frothy (they'll have little bubbles in them) and add in the liquid ingredients of coconut milk, vanilla and honey.

1. Pre-heat your oven to 325F. In the meantime, cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper, enough that the paper goes up the sides a bit above the lip of the baking sheet.
2. Combine all the nuts, seeds, coconut flakes, and spices in a large bowl, with the exception of the cranberries and flax seeds.
3. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt together the raw honey and butter, stirring until they are completed melted. Pour the honey-butter mixture into the bowl and stir until well incorporated. Should be sticking together in chunks, no dry bits.
4. Pour the mixture onto the parchment paper and spread it out so it is even allowing for equal baking on all areas.
5. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes, or until slightly brown - you don't want to over bake this! At the 15 minute mark, check on it and give it a bit of a stir to ensure even browning. Add in the dried cranberries and the flax seeds evenly and continue to bake for another 5-10 minutes.
6. Remove the pan from the oven. At this point the granola is still loose enough that you could mix in some cacao nibs if you wish. Allow granola to cool thoroughly before transferring into an airtight container that can be stored at room temperature....if it makes it that far without it going straight into your belly!