WALNUT BUTTER

My next recipe is going to require walnut butter as an ingredient, so I figured I'd better give ya'll the directions to make it - although there aren't many. You basically just throw a bunch of walnuts into a food processor and watch them turn into creamy, delicious, super healthy walnut butter. What up, simplicity. 

walnut butter

2-4 cups raw walnuts (depending how much you want to end up with) 

Pinch of salt (optional) 

You can soak the walnuts for 6 hours and then dehydrate them, or use them as is. Put them all in your food processor and process until they become powder. Stop and add a bit of salt if you like. Keep processing until it forms a ball. Stop and spread the mixture back to the bottom of the food processor. Keep processing until you get a creamy butter. Store in glass jars in the fridge for up to about 4 weeks.  

coconut mango tarts with figs, walnuts, cinnamon + ginger

I bought a few mangoes yesterday and wanted to use them a in recipe, since lately I've been using mainly frozen fruit - variety is the spice of life! I love mango and coconut together, and also walnuts and figs. So I combined the two delicious pairs and added cinnamon and ginger... because why not? These are a simple treat to make if you ever have a couple fresh mangoes (or other colourful fruits) you want to use in a creative way. 

I hope you enjoy these as much as I did. You really can tell when you're eating pure, raw, whole foods because they give you energy and make you feel light and joyful. That's my experience, anyway. I certainly felt that way after one of these, and I look forward to sharing them with my family so can feel the same way. 

Spread love, in it's whole form. 

coconut mango tarts with figs, walnuts, cinnamon + ginger: makes about five

Tart crust:

1/2 cup walnuts

1 cup dried figs

1 teaspoon cinnamon 

1 teaspoon grated ginger

1 cup coconut flakes 

Filling:

1 or 2 mangoes, peeled sliced in strips 

Cinnamon and ginger powder

Coconut flakes

To make the crusts: pulse coconut and walnuts together in your food processor until they become crumbs. Add the rest of the ingredients and process until it stick together. Press into tart tins lined with coconut oil and put in the fridge to set for about an hour. Take them out of the molds and fill with mango slices, dusting the tops with cinnamon and ginger and sprinkling with coconut. Enjoy!

walnut bliss balls with chia, coconut + carob

Wow, I love balls. This recipe has only a few ingredients, all of which are super foods in their whole, raw form. I had trouble restraining myself from eating all the mix before I rolled them out but I can proudly say I only devoured like... 1/4 of it. This is where you say "Good job, Emily." Even my kitty was tempted by the coconut flakes. I quickly googled "cats and coconut" and it turns out coconut oil is excellent for your animal companions! Holla.

I am starting to prefer carob over cacao. I had forgotten how deliciously sweet it is, and in my opinion, more florally (I don't think that's a word...) than cacao. Nutritionally it has less fat, 1/3 of the calories, many of the same nutrients and vitamins, and can be eaten without any processing, while you must process cacao seeds before they're edible. Having said that - I will never give up chocolate so don't worry. But still - carob is pretty legit. 

You know what else is legit? Chia seeds! They are way too awesome for me alone to explain so I will let this professional-sounding person do it for me. Finally we have raw coconut flakes that taste OUT OF THIS WORLD. I have much sympathy for those poor folks who are allergic to coconut. On your behalf, I am so sorry. Now if you excuse me, I am going to go fill my face with coconut... *runs away* 

walnut bliss balls with chia, coconut + carob: 

Balls:

1 cup walnuts

1/2 cup oats

1 1/2 cups dates

2 tablespoons carob powder

Dash of salt and vanilla, if desired 

Coatings:

Coconut flakes

Carob powder

Chia seeds 

To make the balls: process the walnuts, oats and carob in your food processor until they become a rough flour. Add the rest of the ingredients and process until it sticks together. If it is still too crumbly or dry, add 1 tablespoon of liquid coconut oil or a few more dates. Press the mix into balls with your hands. Roll in the coatings. Nom.