(I hope these aren’t my only legacy)
The following recipe is for a snack many of my clients have just fallen in love with. It’s easy to make and utterly delicious. It’s also very satisfying for both the taste buds and the appetite. Should you find yourself hungry between meals and need “a little something” I think you’ll agree that these are wonderful.
You’ll need:
- One regular-sized jar of almond butter (or any other nut butter-other than peanut or cashew butter-that you prefer). Stir surface oil in well!
- 5-10 oz (an approximation) of organic nuts (almonds, pecans, macadamias, brazil nuts, pistachio’s…etc, preferably pre-soaked and dried). Use a food processor to grind or chop to desired consistency/”chunkiness”.
- Handful of organic sesame seeds and/or chia seeds (great source of mucilaginous fiber to help “keep that train rolling”)
- Organic shredded coconut (as much or as little as you like)
- Alcohol-free (glycerin-based) vanilla extract, or unsweetened powdered/crushed vanilla beans
- One full brick (room temperature) of KerryGold butter (decidedly a “key” ingredient)
Optional ingredients:
- Organic coconut flour (Bob’s Red Mill makes a good one) – add for additional yummy coconut flavor and/or better binding
- Organic coconut butter…(you have to taste this stuff to believe it!)
- Stevia (for added sweetness, if needed or desired)
- Bee pollen (why not? Good source of flavinoids)
- Organic cacao nibs (Dagoba has quality ones) – adds chocolaty flavor without adding sugar. Also, cacao nibs have roughly 2X the antioxidant content of green tea!
- Whatever floats your boat (and happens to be low carb)
Preparation:
Blend the above in a bowl thoroughly, then spoon out into little “balls” onto wax paper on a plate or tray. Refrigerate for a good hour, or until these firm up.
If you want to take them with you, you might consider placing them in a small portable cooler. You could also individually wrap these in wax paper to secure them (if they can’t be refrigerated) so that they don’t get all over everything if they melt.
Prepare your taste buds to be dazzled!
NOTE: By now you’ve figured out I have some sort of twisted fixation on KerryGold butter (don’t knock it until you’ve tried it), to say nothing of sautéed shitake/maitake mushrooms (and onions). Why the shitake/maitakes instead of good-ol’ button mushrooms? Well, you can certainly use the (boring) button mushrooms, or crimini or portabella or any other mushrooms, for that matter. I like shitake/maitake for their excellent flavor and for their considerable immune enhancing qualities. Button mushrooms (together with the rest) have little in the way of anything medicinal or particularly nutritious about them. If you prefer them, then go for it. I’m biased. The above recipes are mostly simple and very economical to prepare. I selected mainly chicken and ground beef recipes for this reason, and because most people like them.
None of these recipes are carved in stone. Feel free to add/omit veggies, seasonings, meat and seafood types as inspired to do so. Just steer clear of starch, refined or hydrogenated vegetable oils and conventional meat and produce. Go for organic, biodynamic and/or locally grown wherever possible. Farmers markets, CSA’s and food co-ops are the best places to shop for veggies. Make sure the meats you buy are organic, free-range and grass-fed wherever possible. Make sure your fish is wild caught.
By eliminating sugar, starch and processed unnatural foods, moderating your protein intake and using healthy, quality fat in sufficient quantity to satisfy your appetite you will find yourself saving untold dollars on your grocery bills…not to mention your medical bills. -Plus you’ll truly enjoy eating and your taste buds will never have to suffer! You’ll enjoy reduced weight, enhanced muscle tone, and skyrocketing energy!
Also note that although I’ve listed a number of recipes here (most of which are fairly quick and easy), using ingredients that are mostly common and liked by most, by no means should you feel that mealtime needs to be so fancy. Breakfast could be a single chicken or duck egg cooked in butter with a little garlic pepper and or a sprinkle of nutritional yeast on top. Or a nut ball. Lunch could be a tin of sardines in olive oil, or a simple salad with a few slices of beef, chicken or salmon tossed in. Dinner could be a small 2-3 oz piece of grass-fed steak cooked in a pan with a side of steamed veggies or a salad, or a small chicken leg and/or thigh piece broiled in the oven with a little seasoning and a side of steamed veggies and melted butter. You could even cook a small burger patty and toss it on a bed of lettuce with some sliced onions and a little seasoning. Mealtime does not have to be elaborate OR expensive in order to be truly healthy.
Remember: if it wouldn’t look like food to someone wandering around 40,000 years ago with a loin cloth and a spear…it’s not food for you now, either.
Bon appetite!
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