Valentine Fudge- The Healthy Way

Thank you to The Nourishing Gourmet for this recipe! So easy and delicious, my Valentine's loved it! I used Xylitol as my sweetener. Raw honey would work well too- I have never heard of the coconut sugar. MMMM.

The Easiest, Healthiest, Most Scrumptious Fudge Ever

By the way, you can easily substitute with this recipe. Coconut oil works very well, but those less inclined to this oil could also use butter for a more traditional taste. Raw honey works very well ( though I find it almost a bit too sweet, so you may want to reduce the amount a little), and I bet you could use other forms of palm/coconut sugar (like the granulated form). I use a food processor, but I am sure that you could also use a stand or hand mixer. You can also easily double this recipe.

1/2 cup of virgin coconut oil
1/2 cup of cocoa powder
1/2 cup of coconut/palm sugar (the paste like kind)
dash of sea salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1-In a heat resistant, glass measuring cup (pyrex), place the coconut oil. Fill a small saucepan with a few inches of water, and place the glass measuring cup in it. Heat on the stove top until the coconut oil is mostly melted (the coconut oil should be room temperature, not hot. This will protect it’s raw benefits).

2-In a food processor using the regular blade, add the melted coconut oil and the rest of the ingredients and mix until well combined.

3-Place enough plastic wrap or parchment paper in a loaf pan to cover the bottom and sides of the pan. Scrape your fudge “dough” into the loaf pan, and fold the plastic wrap or parchment paper over the top of the fudge. Gently press down, to even out the thickness of the fudge (you want it to be about 1/2 inch thick, it will cover probably about 1/2 of the bottom of your loaf pan). Take out the fudge, carefully wrapped up, and place in the freezer or refrigerator until it has set up. In the freezer it only takes about 20- to 30 minutes.

4-Cut into small squares, and enjoy!

Amazing Homemade Soft Pretzels

This recipe is SO delicious. If there is ever a day you wish to enjoy your grains.... make these!

http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/making-homemade-soft-pretzels

They freeze well, and xylitol works great in place of sugar if you choose to make the cinnamon sugar variety. In a perfect world, I would be making these often. I just can't get enough of them!

Chicken Chili Soup

Super easy and healthy. You could throw this soup together on your craziest day and still enjoy a (peaceful?) dinner amongst the chaos! (Coming from someone with two small kiddos...)

Chicken Chili Soup

1 package antibiotic and hormone free chicken drummies or thighs
1/2 bag cannellini beans, soaked overnight and boiled (OR use 2 cans)
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies (organic is best)
12 cups free range chicken broth (learn to make homemade broth here)
Start with one teaspoon of each and go from there:
sea salt
black pepper
turmeric
cayenne pepper
paprika
cumin
and a sprinkle of chili powder
Throw all ingredients in a pot or crock pot, cooking until chicken is done. Remove meat from bones and stir back into your pot. Serve with chopped avocado.

Raw Food Bars (LaraBars)

Here is a lovely version of a mock larabar. Never had a Larabar? You're missing out! So delicious, and so pure. Simple ingredients, and very little for that matter! They are pretty pricey, so here is a version you can make at home.

Mock Larabar Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Bars

1 cup oats
2 cups dates
1 cup organic raisins
1/2 cup ground nuts- almonds or walnuts
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Soak 2 cups dates in water for a few minutes.
Grind up your oats, then nuts and set aside.









Pulse dates in blender or food processor a few times, then add raisins. Add vanilla extract (might need to add a touch of water too if it's not mixing well).





Mix in ground oats and nuts. Transfer to a mixing bowl and mix together by hand, forming into a ball.







Press into a square dish and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.







Cut into squares or bars. Store in fridge.

Peanut Butter Love

We.Love.Peanut.Butter.Period.

However, I hate all the sugar they put in it! We usually buy organic brands, they at least do not contain refined sugar and hydrogenated oils. A Favorite of ours is Maranatha brand. You'll pay a pretty penny for this jar of yummy goodness, but at least the ingredients are as follows:

Organic Dry Roasted Peanuts, Organic Palm Oil, Organic Cane Sugar, Sea Salt.

Compare that to a commercial brand, such as, Jif or Peter Pan and you get:

MADE FROM ROASTED PEANUTS AND SUGAR. CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: MOLASSES, FULLY HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OILS (RAPESEED AND SOYBEAN), MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, SALT. (JIF)

Peanuts, Corn Syrup Solids, Soy Protein, Sugar, Salt, Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (Cottonseed and Rapeseed)Minerals (Magnesium Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Iron Phosphate, Copper Sulfate)Vitamins (Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid) (Peter Pan Reduced Fat Version)

Can I get a... ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

First off, it was hard for me to locate online the ingredient lists, especially for the Peter Pan brand. Like they have something to hide maybe? And if 'choosy' moms choose Jif... then oh my. What does choosy mean again?

Throwing this out there.... maybe parents will be offended... BUT most kids LOVE peanut butter right? PB and J, a well loved, kid friendly/favorite lunch (don't even get me started on commercial jelly and wonderbread- or commercial wheat bread for that matter. Or some organic wheat breads for another matter....ok, focus Dana, focus!). Do any of us parents really know what these ingredients are in our child's Peter Pan peanut butter??? Let me let you in on my knowledge. Take out EVERY SINGLE INGREDIENT, MINUS THE PEANUTS, and you should feel good about feeding this to your child. I once heard someone's very bold statement that feeding a child unhealthily should be considered child abuse. This sure pissed a lot of people off! But think about this, if we do not know what is in the food we feed them, or know what these ingredients do to their/our health, can we argue this accusation? 'Food' for thought.

So! Here is my solution. A frugal, healthy and easy solution. Seriously. $2. Five minutes. You can do that for your little munchkin, can't you?

Homemade Peanut Butter

3 Cups Peanuts

3 Tbsp Coconut Oil

Combine in blender. Blend for a minute or two, then scrape with a spatula. Repeat. And Repeat again.... and again... until your desired consistency. Store in fridge. Makes about 2 cups.

Add raw honey for a sweeter peanut butter.

And eat that yummy goodness straight from the spoon and bask in your healthy treat.