Valentine's Recipes for your Sweetie

First, an endorsement for this blog's frequent commentator, Geoff.  You have got to check out Geoff's video! Not only can Geoff kick butt and take names, which he actually gets paid to do, but he has a love and talent for making Crossfit-related videos.  His latest video focuses on the Challenge in January.  I love how he shows his transition of thinking and doing, and the results for him were great.  The "Masterpiece Theater-esque" beginning kills me, and his partner in the parking lot at the end wants everyone to know that was 30 lbs ago for him.  Check it out here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxOeZyxOH9U

 

Since this is Valentine's Week, I got your chocolate fix covered with four treat options for you. Since Friday's Crack post, I've talked to a lot of people that want to be able to have some intermittent Paleo sweet options once in a awhile.  There are recipes everywhere on the web, but these are my go-to options, and they have proven over and over to be popular with even the worst paleo critics. 

 

1. The Quickest: Salazon Chocolate Company's Salted Dark Chocolate Bar 

 

 

Reason #1 why I love them: they're local, from Eldersburg, MD.  The only Paleo question mark is there is some soy-lecithin as an emulsifier.  There's also cane sugar, because this is a TREAT and should be treated as so.  Reason #2: it's organic, made with all organic products.  The main reason?  Good God it is delicious.  These were on my brain all 30 days of the Challenge, and I bought one immediately after I got weighed.  I'd like to say that I only eat half of one, but the truth is I'm like a dog on a meat truck with these things.  Common Market or www.salazonchoc.com.  You're Welcome. 

 

2.  Another Quickest: Hail Merry Miracle Tarts, available at Wegmans and Common Market. 

 

I love these because they are pure paleo, made with dark chocolate, almond flour, almond butter, and maple syrup or honey as sweeteners.  They are refrigerated in the store, and worth every single bite. 

 

 

3.  Coconut Cacao Kapows.  Dark homemade chocolate.  I stumbled on a tasting of these in Common Market one time, and I immediately bought all the ingredients and made them an hour later.  These are quick, easy, and they will disappear before they can melt at a party. 

 

4-5 Tbs organic raw cacao powder (I use Natural Zing Raw)

1-2 Tbs organic Coconut Oil

4 Tbs raw organic unpasteurized honey

4-5 Tbs organic coconut manna (this is thicker than the oil)

1/2 tsp powdered kelp (emulsifier)

3 tbs sprouted almonds, roughly chopped

1 pinch Himalayan Salt or Sea Salt

 

Cut the coconut oil into the cacao powder with a fork, like butter.  Add the other dry ingredients.  Once completely blended, add the honey and the softened manna until smooth and creamy.  Spoon onto a parchment paper covered cookie sheet and place in freezer for 15-30 minutes then serve.  If you are putting these out for a party, you have to keep them cool or they will melt. 

 

4.  Paleo Granola - no chocolate here, but an amazing treat.  Amanda gave me this recipe with a warning: No more than 2 oz/day, and view it as a treat! I used to make this and take it to work, and all the nurses loved it.  People ask me for the recipe all the time, and my kids take it in their lunches when I make it. We also take it skiing for an energy kick.  Truly a hit. 

 

5 cups nuts and seeds ( I use 2-3 cups slivered almonds as the base, then pumpkin seeds, hazlenuts, flax, pecans and sunflower seeds) - the almonds replace what is normally oats in granola.

1/3 c. honey or real maple syrup

1/3 c. coconut oil

5 tsp vanilla

4 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp nutmeg

2 c. real raisins (I use the golden ones)

1 c. shredded, fresh, unsweetened coconut

Freshly cracked Sea Salt to taste

 

Mix honey, oil, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small saucepan and bring to a boil on the stove.  Let it cool.  Spread the nuts and seeds out on a greased baking sheet and pour the cooled honey mixture over the top.  Sprinkle with Sea Salt to taste.  Mix it around to get everything covered, and bake for 30 minutes at 300 degrees (WATCH CAREFULLY - the nuts might burn).  Allow the pan to cool slightly and then put into a bowl.  Mix in raisins and coconut, and enjoy!

 

Make this yours if you'd like.  Add other spices - make it spicy, southwestern, whatever.  I've experimented a little, but this is my favorite version.  The salty sweet is the kicker. 

 

Not that I'm recommending the Sugar Fix, but hey, there are times when it's simply life sustaining.  Anything above is better than ice cream, store bought cookies, or a regular candy bar. 

 

Skip the roses, and go for the paleo sweets instead.