Paleo-friendly Chocolate Bark

Paleo Bark

Here is one of the most simple and easy "treat" recipes to make - Chocolate Bark! Use good quality ingredients in this one - and make them your favourite. This recipe gives you free range of what ingredients you want to mix into your bark to make it your own :)



Ingredients:

1lb Dark Chocolate (75% or higher the better), chopped into small pieces
1 Cup Favourite Nuts (I like cashews or pistchios - or mix them up)
1/2 Cup Favourite Dried Fruit
Sea Salt (Try Himalayan Pink Sea Salt)

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, leaving a little bit extra on the edges, this will allow for easy removal of the bark when it is done.
2. In a double boiler, or use a stainless steel bowl over a pot of boiling water (use gloves or a towel to hang on - it will get hot), melt the chocolate. Make sure you are constantly stirring (use a rubber spatula to help scrape the bowl) so that the chocolate melts evenly.
3. When the chocolate is melted, pour it onto the lined baking sheet and spread evenly using your spatula.
4. Sprinkle the nuts and dried fruit evenly across the chocolate, you may have to apply slight pressure to ensure that the pieces are sunken into the chocolate. Sprinkle a touch of salt over the entire pan - this will give it a sweet and salt taste, but the salt also brings out the flavour of the chocolate.
5. Place in the fridge for about 30-45 minutes until the chocolate has harden; remove and break into snack size pieces. Store in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for snacking :)

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!