By: Hettie Basil Lighttower
Hey! Nice to see you! Glad you could make it today. Pull up a chair. Let’s see what we can get into. And thanks to a couple of you who have written in: “I really liked the article about ‘being angry is a choice’. It was a good reminder and encouragement. And when I am reading your columns it’s like you are right there in the room with me, like we are having a conversation. I really like that”, TM. “When you talked about eggshells, I just knew you were going to say we could eat them! Haha…”, JT. “When I get the paper, your column is the first thing I read! I always wonder what we are going to talk about this week. Thank you Hettie”, PF. “I really enjoy your columns. They are so informational and funny. I really enjoy them”, LH. Thanks for all the input everyone. I am glad we are learning and growing together.
Let’s keep it light today. I want to share a few sweet-tooth recipes that I have not tried. I want you to try them then tell me what they were like. “Hey Mikey! He likes it!” Haha, yeh it’s like that “health cereal” commercial about LIFE cereal. No one wants to try it because it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles. But this first one is truly one that I plan to try.
It is: “Chocolate Pudding”
2 AVOCADOS (I probably lost you at avacados)
1CUP VANILLA YOGURT (I have a friend that makes the BEST homemade yogurt it’s the only yogurt I get now)
¼ CUP HONEY OR MAPLE SYRUP
1/3 CUP UNSWEETENED COCOA POWDER
1TSP VANILLA
Blend together until smooth and creamy. Eat directly or place in frig for a cool treat later!
If you have kids who are picky eaters but they like chocolate this is a great way to get a ton of good things into their system. Avocados have healthy fats, free of sugar, sodium and cholesterol, high in fiber and vitamin C, good for your brain and nervous system, and improves your body’s ability to heal.
Next up is: “Chickpea Cookie Dough”
This is a great way to have delicious gluten free cookies with a protein punch.
1 CAN CHICKPEAS
¼ CUP ALMOND FLOUR
¼ CUP NUT BUTTER (Peanut or almond or sunflower or hazelnut)
4 TBSP MAPLE SYRUP
1 TSP VANILLA EXTRACT
A PINCH OF SALT
1/3 CUP DARK CHOCOLATE CHIPS
Combine all the ingredients except the chips in a food processor until smooth, fold in the chips of chocolate and voila! Egg free, gluten free safe delicious cookie dough for your little heathens that insist on eating raw cookie dough. Or maybe you are the heathen at your house. tee hee… Anyway, this is a safe and easy treat to cheat.
These are pretty easy so far yes? I think you’ll like this one best, but who knows.
“Strawberry Bark”
Slice up as many strawberries as it takes to fill a small cookie pan
Then mix up ¼ cup of yogurt of choice and 1/4 cup of nut butter.
Spread that onto your strawberries. Place the pan of goodness into your freezer.
Meanwhile, melt your desired amount of dark chocolate. Take the pan out of freezer, drizzle the chocolate and add chopped nuts if you like. Place back into the freezer for 3-4 hours. Then break apart or cut into squares and voila! Strawberry Bark! NOTE: there are so many nice silicon molds available these days, you could easily use those to make already-ready individual frozen strawberry disks. That way you would not have to cut or break them apart from the large pan. You could also make them layered or in smaller batches. Look in any baking section for really great silicon molds. I have gotten some at JoAnn Fabrics in the cake decorating section and I use mine for resin art. There are only rules if you insist. (smile)
Last, but not least, is: “Raspberry Bars”
2 ½ CUPS FROZEN RASPBERRIES
2 CUPS SHREDDED COCONUT
3 TBSP MAPLE SYRUP
2 TSP VANILLA
DARK CHOCOLATE FOR COATING
Blend frozen raspberries, coconut, vanilla and maple syrup together. Press into a dish lined with parchment paper and freeze for 2 hours. Remove and cut into bars and coat with dark chocolate.
Send in your notions and comments to [email protected]. I will include them in the next available column as per their arrival relative to the publication deadline of Tuesday by 12 p.m. of the same week. If you wish to be anonymous let me know. Kindness is contagious~*