fudgy raw brownies

Raw brownies are one of the best things in the world. They are - in my opinion - approximately 10,000 times more delicious than regular brownies and on top of that they are infinitely more healthy AND easy to make. I literally made these guys in ten minutes. They were promptly devoured in five.

I'd like to say that I won't be posting fora few days because I am going to Vancouver Island for an annual mini-vacation. Tofino, to be exact. There I will soak up the lovely rain, hug the ancient trees and frolic in the friendly sands. Oh, and probably pick up a few goodies in their raw food grocery store. It's a little town of surfers, hikers and all around kind hippies - I fit right in. See you soon!

fudgy raw brownies: makes 16

• 1 cup oats
• 1 cup cashews
• 2 cups dates
• 1/4 cup cacao (more or less)
• 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
• 1-2 tablespoons ground coffee beans (optional but recommended)
• pinch of salt

Put everything in your food processor and process until it is all broken down and starting to stick together. Press a bit together with your fingers and see if it holds or crumbles. If it holds - press into a lined baking pan. If it crumbles, add a few more dates and process until it holds. Put the baking pan in the fridge for 30-60 minutes, then cut and eat! Great with fruit and nut milk.

goji coconut brownies

before i start telling you about brownies - have you heard the new fleet foxes album!?

every single freaking song is amazing and resonates deep within my soul. that's all there is to say. my friend is going to give me his old record player (so excited!!!! he is the best) and helplessness blues may be the first record i buy. here's a song from the album, it's got a beautiful video to go with it.

on to food. as you may have noticed - i have been eating predominantly salad the past few weeks, and this has yet to stop. all the salads i make are so gorgeous i have to take pics and show you. i don't care if you don't wanna see them. i will force you.

just look at it!

it was an excellent meal, as you should assume. for dessert i made these guys:

they are really yummy, as you should also assume. i put coconut, goji berries, almonds, cashews, hemp seeds, prunes and cacao in 'em. simple, delicious and nutritious. they are disappearing pretty rapidly. 

goji coconut brownies: makes... enough

1/3 cup goji berries

1/2 cup coconut chunks

3/4 cup almonds

3/4 cup cashews

3 tb hemp seeds

1/3 cup cacao

6 tb mesquite powder

1 t cinnamon

1/8 t cayenne 

1/2 t Himalayan salt  

1/4 cup dates

1/4 cup prunes

2 tb melted coconut oil

a bit of agave, maple syrup or honey (if you like)

in a food processor, pulse nuts into crumbs then add the dates and prunes and wait for the mix to start sticking together. add all the other ingredients and see if you like how it tastes. if so - awesome! (if not, change to your liking) then press into a lined pan and refrigerate for 1 hour. 

or eat them right away.

raw brownies & strawberries

Oh my goodness me. These are so tasty. I ate them with some organic strawberries my mom bought for me. The combo blew my mind and I ate like... at least 3 plus almost the whole container of strawberries. I can't help myself.

Raw brownies have the same ingredients as good quality (and let's face it - expensive) energy bars like Clif Bars or Larabars. Yummy, nutritious stuff like raw dried fruit, coconut, nuts and seeds. MMM! So good for you. They give you long lasting energy and keep you strong and healthy. These are the treats mother nature intended, and they are as processed as your food should get (which is not much at all).

So instead of paying $3.50 for a Clif Bar at trendy coffee shops - make them yourself, and better!

Everybody knows how delicious chocolate and strawberries are together, so brownies and strawberries are unsurprisingly amazing. I definitely recommend eating these with organic strawberries! They are one of the most contaminated plant foods otherwise.

Don't wanna buy expensive organic strawberries? Grow your own! We have seven plants flowering this year =) Last summer we just had one but MY GOD - the few berries that grew from it were the most luscious, flavorful things I've ever put in my mouth.

RAW BROWNIES YO: makes around 16

2 cups walnuts or your fave nut
1/4 cup hemp seeds
2 Tb flax seeds
1/2 cup coconut chunks
1 1/2 cups dates/prunes
1/3 cup cacao/carob powder
1/4 tsp each salt, cinnamon and cayenne
1/4 cup goji berries (optional)
2 Tb melted virgin coconut oil 

I think that's everything I put in these... but it's different every time. Always delicious though. Process all the ingredients in your food processor until it balls together. Press into a lined brownie pan and refrigerate for maybe 20 minutes. Slice 'em and devour with ripe strawberries. Perfection on a summer day.

Oh. Mother Nature - how kind are thee to give us ART in the form of FOOD.

raw fudge brownies: YEAH BABY!

Thank you, Mother Nature.

These sexy things are delicious and packed with nutrients to keep you living long; enjoying life and all it has to offer... like brownies.Raw desserts are pretty much the easiest food in the world to make, because usually they consist of just dates, nuts, coconut oil, and whatever else you want to add. These are no different.

Normal brownie ingredients? White flour, white sugar, butter, and cocoa. What're those gonna do for you?! Make you sleepy and gain weight. In these brownies: there's prunes, dates, hemp, chia, flax, cocoa, mesquite, cinnamon, vanilla and oats. Yummy in my tummy, good FOR my body. 

Yours too.

You can make these in like 5 minutes, and they'll disappear even faster. The best part (aside from eating them) is telling people they're healthy and made from whole foods! It's a magical world, my friends. These are also great for pre- or post-workout snacks!

 -
Raw Fudge Brownies: makes about 8 large brownies

1 1/2 cup oats

1 cup dates & prunes

1 t vanilla extract 

3 Tb coconut oil, melted

1/4 cup honey/agave/maple syrup

2 Tb mesquite powder (optional)

1/4 cup cup hemp seed

2 Tb flax seed

2 Tb chia seed
1/3 cup cashews (preferably soaked)

1/3 cup cocoa/cacao

1/2 t cinnamon
Pinch of salt

Put dates and prunes in bowl of water. Set aside.

Blend 1 cup of the oats in blender until it becomes oat flour. Then in a food processor, process dates and prunes (with about 1/4 cup of the water) with all the other wet ingredients until smooth. Now add all the dry ingredients, including the remaining 1/2 cup of whole oats and oat flour. Good consistency? It should be thick, but very moist. Press it into a pan lined with tin foil or plastic wrap and set in the fridge for a little bit so the coconut oil can stiffen them up.

Then cut 'em up and serve! Make a chocolate sauce for them, or have with fruit and nut butter!

*You can make these even simpler by just blending dates, cashews coconut oil and cacao. But I always like to add a bunch of stuff for more flavours. I cannot help it. It's up to you!