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Cacao Covered Strawberries

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Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup cacao
  • 6 tbs coconut oil (liquid form)
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • Medium sized carton of strawberries

Directions:

  1. Melt coconut oil by putting container in a bowl of warm/hot water
  2. Mix ingredients together in bowl. Keep in bowl or transfer into smaller cup to dip strawberries.
  3. Dip strawberries
  4. Put strawberries on parchment paper on a plate or tray. I used a large zip lock bag since I didn’t have that

Put in fridge for an hour. I put in freezer for 10 min (because who wants to wait an hour?) and they seemed ready and were delicious. Cacao is chocolate in its raw form & has *no sugar*. It is high in anti-oxidants and is considered a “superfood”.

The added salt on this gives it the perfect extra kick

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Roasted Fennel

 

Ingredients:

  • Bulbs of fennel
  • Tsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 lemon juice
  • sea salt & black pepper

Directions:

  • Cut fennel into slices (see photo)
  • Mix fennel with olive oil in bowl
  • Place fennel on baking sheet
  • Sprinkle sea salt, pepper & lemon juice on top
  • Bake for 25-30 min at 350°F
  • Turn slices over after about 15 min

This recipe is great to add to a salad, use as a side dish or have as a healthy snack. Fennel helps with digestion and constipation.

 

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Raw Chocolate (Cacao) Mousse Dessert

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Ingredients:

  • 1 Avocado
  • 1/2 Banana
  • 1/2 cup Cacao powder
  • 1/4 cup Coconut Milk
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 tsp Manuka Honey
  • Topped with Strawberries

Directions:

  • Mix ingredients in a blender
  • Put in fridge for 30 minutes

Why is Cacao healthier than Cocoa?

Cacao is chocolate in its purest form. It is raw, contains no sugar and is considered a superfood due to high amounts of antioxidants and magnesium. Cocoa is the heated and processed form of Cacao. Anything heated or processed has less nutritional value than what it would in its raw form.

References:

“Cacao vs. Cocoa: What You Need to Know.” One Green Planet. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.

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Fair Trade Baked Banana

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Ingredients:

  • Banana
  • Cacao
  • Cinnamon
  • Cacao nibs (optional for crunch).

Directions:

  • Roll banana in cacao powder, cinnamon and cacao nibs (optional).
  • Put tinfoil around banana(s).
  • Bake for 20-25 min on 350 degrees in tinfoil.
  • Cut banana

Use Organic, Local, no GMO, Fair Trade food whenever possible.

Fair Trade: 

Banana and Cacao are common fair trade items. For an ethical purchase, look for a Fair Trade Certification.

 

What does Fair Trade mean?

  • Farmers receive a fair price
  • Allows farmers to invest in techniques that bring out the flavors of the region
  • Strictly prohibits slave and child labor.

References:

“Fair Trade USA.” What Is Fair Trade? Web. 10 Apr. 2016.