Happy Valentine’s Day Lovers! And for those of you without a special someone, that’s me too this year! So cheers!
But there are still really special people I am going to give a little Organic, Vegan treat to this year.
I’m actually a guest speaker today talking about how Food is Your Best Medicine, featuring this very Valentine’s Treat.
Now, it really sounds bad, right? Maybe not the organic part but Vegan? Doesn’t sound like a real treat huh?
NO CHEF! SOUNDS BAD!
Well I’m glad that’s what you think because it gives me an opportunity to introduce you to something you can whip up any time without serious cooking or baking, that just a bite or two will satisfy your sweet tooth.
DISLAIMER: I do not make desserts. You can count on ONE HAND the number of creations I have made. And my original blog talked about raw…. but of course, this isn’t a raw dessert! lol
So, this concept started a couple of weeks ago. Someone said he was getting me peanut brittle from See’s for Valentine’s and I though: “Let me give him back a healthier version”.
Last night I was in this very creative mood. A glass of good red wine and I was ‘cookin’ good. lol
See the ingredients? All organic, and all yum when they come together.
I started with the coconut spread. Warmed some at the bottom of my pan (in place of butter). Coconut Spread or oil is great for you on so many levels…improves cholesterol, helps you with your immune system, fights viruses and bacteria, helps with both your thyroid and blood sugar, and now, our ‘star of stars’ Dr. Oz is saying you should use it to release belly fat!
WOW CHEF! I NEED TO CONSIDER THAT!
Yes. Yes you do. So that’s what I started with. I added the organic Coconut Sugar plus a drop or two of water to get it (on a medium heat) to turn into caramel. Yum. Caramel. I added salt, just a touch of honey, vanilla, cinnamon, coconut creamer, and let it cook into a bubbly deliciousness. Once it started looking more like caramel, I added organic peanuts that I had whizzed in my food processor. Brought it back up to a boil and let it cook for a couple of minutes.
Used coconut oil and greases a pan. Poured the whole thing in. And then I thought: “Why don’t I do a Coconut sugar solid drizzle and coconut flakes on top combined with some semi sweet organic chocolate bits all melted together”?
So I went back to the pan and created that, with a touch of salt.
I swirled it over the top and Voila!
It’s a Yummy Valentine’s Treat!
Now unlike brittle which has corn syrup, white sugar, baking soda and a few other things I didn’t want to put into this…. I have to say it’s more of a gooey, sticky yummy kind of thing…. way different than brittle. You won’t be getting solid sheets of brittle from this recipe!
But I will say this: A bite or two and you feel like you’ve had a sweet. That craving is gone! You feel satisfied.
So a little goes a long way. That one sheet is feeding 20 people today, with just ‘tastes’. Then I have some to take over to my daughter’s house later.
Hope you will join me, in starting to think of ways to satisfy that sugar craving without doing any real damage.
One more thought? Dried figs. Reminds me of my childhood. We all like fig newtons, right?
RIGHT CHEF!
Well, I guess that’s the next raw recipe for me to figure out! Or just bite into a dried fig and let your memories do the rest!
Happy Eating,
Chef Marian