By now I am hoping processed sugar is not part of your menu. If you are trying, then be proud of yourself for trying. Processed sugar is an addiction and is a danger to your health. You will go through ''sugar withdrawal'' when you decide to cut it out of your diet.
Dates, sultana's, honey or maple is a sugar. It is natural and you can overdose on these natural sugars as well. So don't over indulge. You will find eating these snacks, one slice or even half a slice are really filling. You are not going to eat a whole packet like you would do, with a packet of shop-bought biscuit.
Cacao ( this is not cocoa, see my page on chocolate)- Vitamin E, B6, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Copper, Selenium. I only ever buy this for my family as a drinking chocolate. It is basically raw chocolate powder with nothing taken away and nothing added.
Walnuts - Rich source of energy and contains health benefiting nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins that are essential for optimum health. Omega 3 - anti-inflammatory action helps lower blood pressure, cuts down coronary artery disease, and stroke risk and offers protection from breast, colon and prostate cancers. Vitamin E - powerful soluble antioxidant. Rich source of B complex groups, manganese, copper, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, selenium.
Raw Chocolate and Walnut Slice Recipe
Tray with low sides - 10 by 15 inches
3 cups rolled oats - organic is best ( rolled oats are sprayed a lot) - buy GF if you need to.
1 cup mixed nuts or seeds or both ( large nuts chop smaller) I used pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.
1 cup raw walnuts ( if you don't have walnuts you could use almonds)
4 cups sultana's or dried dates - soaked in boiling water, cool and then place in a sieve to remove liquid.
1 1/2 cups cacao
1/2 cup peanut butter or almond butter
1/2 cup brown rice malt syrup or honey or maple
Method
1 - In an oven 200c, lightly roast your seeds and nuts for flavour.
- Also lightly roast your rolled oats. This gives a nice flavour.
2 - Blend in a food processor your raw walnuts until a fine ground.
3 - Now add to the blender with the walnuts, blending one at a time
- sultana's or dates
- nut butter and honey
- cacao
4 - Mix rolled oats and nuts or seeds or both in a large bowl.
5 - Spoon in the blended mix, and mix well.
6 - Press into a lined tray with sides. (see photo below how I rolled it flat)
7 - Place in the freezer or fridge. It will not completely freeze hard. But once you have cut shapes you will need to keep it in the fridge.
Blending your raw walnuts.
Adding your dates or sultana's.
Add cacao, honey and nut butter.
Mix seeds and nuts, and rolled oats. Stir in your blended mix.
Mix altogether and then press into a tray. It helps to lay a non-stick sheet on the dough and using a rolling pin to give a nice smooth finish.
Looks good :)
Cut shapes. Place in the freezer.
Yum :)
Home grown walnuts, now its time to sit down with music on and crack a few walnuts.