Incredible Chocolate Cookies

These fab cookies are made from leftover bits of other food projects.

I cook with butter if I use oil at all. This is a blend of equal amounts of butter and nut butter (in this case almond).

From the milk liqueur I have the ginger puree. It is sweet and spicy. There are no exact ingredients or measurements because when you make the cookies it will be your special offering.

I like nuts (and prefer pecans, but always have walnuts on hand), chocolate chips, coconut, and chia seeds. I add chia seeds to everything. They are my justification for indulgence.

I save the pulp from juicing and generally have carrots remains. This week I added raspberries to the juice and strained out the seeds.

I keep cake or muffin mix on hand, but oat flour with 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder per cup will work as well. (Add cocoa powder if more chocolate is desired.) Mix.


Without the eggs, the cookies were crumbly. These will be great mixed with yogurt or vanilla ice cream. They reminded me of Seattle Chocolates - my favorite candies. Instead of one flavor, it was a taste explosion in my mouth!

Yum!

Winter Fiber Boost

Toast with raw local honey

I'm not into hot cereal unless it's rice. I enjoy a whole grain bread (Ezekiel 4:9) with honey and cream cheese. Of course, every day, I have chia seeds. This was a new twist and quite delightful. The only problem was my toast got cold while I was taking pictures.

I have learned that the best way to add chia seeds to my muffins is just before spooning into the pan. That way the seeds stay crunchy rather than absorbing the liquid in the batter. Chia seeds can be soaked first to increase moisture, but added at the end, they become a compliment just like nuts and fruit. Try something new - just for fun.

Spread cream cheese. Sprinkle with chia seeds. Enjoy.

I included the links so you will have full access to great foods! Salud!

Oatmeal Chia Seed Bars

Oatmeal Chia Seed Bars

1/2 cup nut butter 

1/4 cup honey

1/3 cup chia seeds

2 cups oatmeal - ground

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon spices - ginger, cinnamon

1/2 cup chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit - as preferred 

1) Soak chia seed in 1/2 cup water, tea, or juice

2) Place nut butter in a large sauce pan over very low heat.

3) Mix honey and nut butter until blended. Remove from heat.

4) Add salt and spices to ground oatmeal. Sprinkle dry ingredients over honey butter.

5) Add chia gel to mix. (That's what happens when chia seeds are mixed with liquid. Chia seeds can absorb up to 9x their weight.) The dough will be sticky.

6) Mix in any additives you have chosen - chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts or seeds.

7) Evenly spread dough in a baking dish.

8) Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes. If baking in a dark pan, check early and frequently to avoid burning. Baking is merely to set and firm the bar rather than "cook." When dough is firm and dry to touch, remove from over and allow to cook.

9) Cut into 12 servings. The bars may be wrapped and stored for easy use and transport.  

Enjoy with plenty of your favorite beverage for health and lasting energy.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia

Chia Seeds

Remember the commercial with the terracotta animals? You were to soak them in water and them apply the chia seed and watch them grow “hair.” Did they ever tell us what to do with the “hair” after it was long?  That “hair” is sprouted seed, like any other sprouts we might enjoy and can be added to salads or sandwiches. They can also be eaten as micro-greens. Raw food at their best.

Chia is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, even more so than flax seeds. Another advantage over flax is that chia is so rich in antioxidants that the seeds don't deteriorate and can be stored for long periods without becoming rancid. Unlike flax, chia seeds do not have to be ground to make their nutrients available to the body.

Chia seeds also provide fiber (25 grams give you 6.9 grams of fiber) as well as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, and zinc. One ounce of Chia Seeds has 4915mg of Omega 3. Omega 3 fatty acids are loaded with protein which is great for healthy skin, hair, and nails. Chia Seeds are high in calcium and naturally have Boron in them which transfer the calcium into your bones.

When added to water and allowed to sit for 30 minutes, Chia forms a gel. Researchers suggest that this reaction also takes place in the stomach, slowing the process by which digestive enzymes break down carbohydrates and convert them into sugar. They grow to 9x their size and they slow down the absorption of carbohydrates to control the appetite. This effect in itself has many health implications and applications.

Oatmeal walnut chia seed cookies (with chocolate chips)

Chia has a nutlike flavor. You can mix seeds in water and add lime or lemon juice and sugar to make a drink known in Mexico and Central America as "Chia fresca." As with ground flax seeds, you can sprinkle ground or whole Chia seeds on cereal, in yogurt or salads, eat them as a snack, or grind them and mix them with flour when making muffins or other baked goods. Chia can also be added to commercially prepared infant formulas, baby foods, juices, drinks, yogurt, and other foods.

Chia seeds can be used to extend servings without compromising flavor and while decreasing fat. The Chia gel (seeds soaked in water) can be used as a substitute for fat in recipes. Sound like a miracle food? Well it was for the Aztecs who are said to have survived for twenty four hours on a single ounce. Want to learn even more? Enjoy.

To your health!