Chocolate Macaroons

I am constantly amazed about how much people love these decadent treats! They are simply gluten free bliss!

Ingredients for Chocolate Macaroons:

3 cups dried, unsweetened coconut flakes

1 1/2 cups cocoa powder

1 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup coconut butter

1 tablespoon vanilla

extract

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

To make Chocolate Macaroons:

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and stir well to combine.

Using a small ice cream scoop, your hands, or a big tablespoon, spoon rounds of the dough onto dehydrator screens. If using your hands, it helps to refrigerate the mix a bit prior to forming the macaroons, or have a bowl of water to wet your hands so macaroon mix does not stick. Dehydrate at 115 degrees for 12 to 24 hours, or until crisp on the outside and moist on the inside. you may also choose to put them in the freezer for a frozen treat or simply dehydrate in oven by turning it off and on till desired consistency is reached.

*You may also substitute carob for the cocoa powder.

Benefits of Raw Cacao:

Magnesium: This is one of the most essential minerals, yet studies say that more than 80% of the United States' population is deficient in magnesium. In nature, the most concentrated source of magnesium is raw cacao! Other good sources of the mineral include certain nuts and any chlorophyll molecule. Magnesium supports the heart, increases brain power, relaxes muscles, increases flexibility, causes healthy bowl movements, and helps build string bones. As one of the body's primary alkaline minerals, magnesium assists the normal functioning of several chemical enzymatic processes -- facilitating more then three hundred different detoxification and elimination functions.

Chromium: This mineral helps balance blood sugar levels, and cacao has ten times the amount of chromium as whole wheat, a chromium-rich food, making it the highest food source of this mineral.

Antioxidant Power: Raw cacao beans are super-rich in antioxidant flavonols. They contain 10,000 mg (10 grams) of flavonol antioxidants (that's a 10% concentration level!). This makes cacao possibly the best source of antioxidants, with twenty to thirty times more than red wine or green tea.

Vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, C, and E are all present in significant quantities.

Other nutrients: Fiber, iron, niacin, phosphorus, as well as hundreds of other chemicals and phytonutrients (special plant nutrients) are found in cacao.

In pure chocolate bliss,

Michelle

xoxo

Please check out my personal site at: www.MichelleBerryShaffer.com

Farmer's Market Bliss!

Kate and I participated in our very first farmer's market on Tuesday evening in Whitefish! It was amazing! Thank you to all of you who came out and supported us!

The energy was wonderful!

Kate's boyfriend, Eric helped us set up, Thanks brother! I thought I was going to have some time to sit down, and talk to people, but what really happened was that we had swarms of people around our booth, it was very exciting!

We served raw tacos. The shells were made with corn, flax, red bell pepper, herbs and spices. The insides consisted of "refried beans", fresh greens from Ten Lakes Farm, salsa verde, cashew sour cream and topped with some fresh, organic tomatoes!

Some people even just bought the "refried beans" to take home and top their own salads.

To make 2 cups of "refried beans" is easy!

Soak 8 sun dried tomatoes in 1/4 cup olive oil for 2-4 hours

2 cups sunflower seeds

1/2 jalapeno

2 green onions, chopped

1/4 cup packed cilantro with stems, chopped

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon cumin powder

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 clove garlic

In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the "S" blade, puree the sunflower seeds, tomatoes, and garlic to a smooth pate.

Now place the rest of the ingredients in the bowl of the food processor, and continue to puree until smooth.

It may be necessary to add a little water to attain the consistency you desire, remember you are looking for a meat like or refried bean like consistency.

If you like it spicy add chipotle.

Done! It's sooo good!

Sunflower seeds are high in protein and rich in essential omega-6 fatty acid, calcium, and iron.

We also served the ever-so-famous chocolate macaroons! Delish!

Thank you again to all who supported us for the first market! Be looking for us next week where we will be serving spring rolls with dipping sauce, cheese cake, fresh salad, and maybe some soup!

Lots of love!

Michelle

xoxox