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The Simple Life (Part Two)

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Happy Sunday Everyone!

I apologize for the delay in posting this second part. The sunny warm weather has been oh so attractive lately – my computer not so much!

In Part One, I covered off a few tips on simplifying your life through diet. It wasn’t by any means an extensive list of tips but its purpose was to show you that eating healthfully doesn’t have to be equated to buying complicated ingredients or preparing complicated recipes. It really can be simple if you want it to be!

In this next part, I’ll touch on another area of your life where a small collection of changes can positively affect your day-to-day routine and overall life experience. I can’t help but notice when people start to clean-up their diets and become more conscious of their food choices, their desire for this next step naturally ensues.

Photo via Sanctuary

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2. Declutter and detoxify your living space.

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression that a cluttered home leads to a cluttered mind? Well I believe this is absolutely true! You’ll be amazed at how much more productive, creative and inspired you are when you clear the clutter from your living space and cultivate a space of serenity. This requires a little bit of work upfront but the pay-off is huge when it comes to your mental clarity.

Regularly purging things that you no longer need or use is a great habit to get into. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how liberating it can feel! Now depending on the size of your living space the thought of going through all your stuff can be quite overwhelming. Start with one room or closet at a time. You might even start by choosing 5-10 items and either donating them to someone in need or recycling them accordingly. Have the kiddos do this as well with their stuff! Just like you, children also benefit tremendously from living in environments free of clutter. You’ll likely notice that their homework sessions are more productive and their dispositions more sunny. Furthermore you’ll be instilling important values in them at a young age (i.e. hoarding isn’t cool).

The flip side of the same coin is to stop buying and accumulating more stuff! More than half of the stuff we buy we don’t really need; however, deeply ingrained social programming would have us believe otherwise. Take back your power and don’t be a marionette of society!

Go on a shopping strike!! Try going a month where you only buy basic necessities, food items, toiletries, etc. You can still spend a little money on  entertainment (i.e. a night out with friends) but don’t accumulate more stuff. This can really help open up your eyes to how much you really need as opposed to how much you think you need. It also shows you just how much you are “sold” every day. Repeat this mantra if you find yourself pining over some unnecessary product. Don’t need it. Don’t want it. Don’t gotta have it!

When it comes to decluttering your living space here are 3 great areas to start:

Closets/Clothes – If you haven’t worn it in over a year it’s quite likely you never will. Routinely go through your clothes and clear out the items that no longer serve you. If an item is permanently stained and can’t be salvaged, recycle it accordingly. Make a separate pile for items that need mending, buttons sewed, etc. Only hang or put away clothes that you can wear now.

Bathroom – Clear out your medicine cabinets and cupboards below the sink. Give them a good wipe down and go through each item one-by-one. Dispose of old medications, expired lotions, cosmetics or stuff that you no longer use. Next, read the labels on all of your stuff. Do any of your cosmetics contain toxic and carcinogenic ingredients? For a full list I suggest you check out the EWG’s Skin Deep data base here. I understand that cosmetics can be quite expensive so you’re not likely to trash all your products if they contain a few potentially toxic ingredients, however, at least you’ll be conscious of what you’re slathering on your skin. When the bottle’s empty you can replace it with a cleaner alternative. With that said, don’t waste your money on tons of lotions and potions promising you a youthful glow. Simplify your beauty routine and check out my post here on a chemical-free glow.

Office/work space – Clear everything off the top of your desk so that your work space is free of clutter. Recycle papers you no longer need or put them in an inbox if they require immediate attention. Otherwise find a home for them by filing them away in designated folders for future use. Also, don’t let mail pile up. Open it immediately and either recycle it, put it in your inbox or file it away if necessary.

Now when it comes to cleaning your living space you want to ensure that you’re not using any toxic chemicals that will potentially be inhaled by you and your family or licked up by the dog (or baby)! Choose non-toxic products as often as possible or learn how to make your own cleaning products to save a little cash. Check out ewg.org.

Here are a few simple tips in cultivating a serene living space!

  • Let your living space breathe by cracking open a window and letting in fresh oxygen. This will also help clean out toxins deposited from cleaning products and other sources.
  • Never use commercial air fresheners or candles. Instead use non-toxic alternatives such as essential oils or light candles made from beeswax or soy.
  • Fill your space with nature’s air cleaners – PLANTS! They help to purify the air and remove pollutants and make your living space much more inviting and pleasant to be in. Two plants that are great at detoxifying the air are the Peace Lily and Spider Plant. I have both in my space!

This is by no means an exhaustive list as there are tons of other great tips you can apply, but in the spirit of simplicity I’ve kept it short. And don’t forget, you only have to apply a few of these tips today to see positive changes tomorrow.

Check out this article for more tips on decluttering along other great ones over at zenhabits.net – an amazing resource of info and personal favourite of mine!

Two down and one more to go! Part Three of The Simple Life will be posted shortly.

Stay tuned! For real this time.

Here’s to clearing through the clutter!

Elaine

The Simple Life (Part One)

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Simple times in Oaxaca, Mexico!

Ever get the feeling you just want to pack it up and move out to the country, or maybe some isolated tropical paradise? Perhaps not, but if you’re a city dweller like myself, sometimes you just get an overwhelming desire to get the heck out. This is the time when it’s really nice and dandy if you have a cottage you can escape away to, or at least know somebody who has one! Regardless of your life situation, city-dweller or not, sometimes life just gets a little hectic and you need to take some time out to reflect on what’s most important for your highest good. With the never ending to-do lists, social obligations, work responsibilities, emailing, texting, tweeting, downloading and uploading, it comes as no surprise that more and more of us are plagued by stress.

The effects of stress can be detrimental because they often spill over to other facets of our lives contributing to improper food choices, insufficient sleep and incessant mental chatter among other things that can ultimately lead to health problems down the road. Oftentimes it helps to take a step back and reevaluate the areas of our lives where we can make small simple changes that can drastically improve the quality of our day-to-day lives and improve our overall life experience. After all, life is meant to be enjoyed!

Check out my tips below for living (and enjoying) the simple life!

1. Simplify your Diet. Focus your diet around natural, whole foods as often as possible. People often get tripped up when they try to eat healthier because they believe that they have to spend a lot of time in the kitchen slaving over a stove. This couldn’t be further from the truth! I consider myself a true foodie who loves to channel her inner gourmand in the kitchen as often as possible, but allow me to let you in on a little secret…I like to keep my day-to-day REALLY simple and basic. In fact, I’m not a fan of complicated dishes or recipes at all. Flavourful and delicious – YES, but complicated – NO. People oftentimes think the two are synonymous – not so!

It’s all about getting a little creative with a few basic ingredients. And remember, the flavor is in the freshness. For example, think about the complex tastes of peppery baby arugula topped with sun-ripened tomatoes, crunchy cucumber and fresh summer herbs, or baked wild salmon topped with fresh dill and drizzled with fresh lemon juice, or the taste of a ripe juicy peach in the summertime. Get creative with garlic, ginger, herbs, sea salt, spices, lemon juice and a little natural butter. These are the elements that truly make even the most basic dish spring to life with vibrant flavour. The most basic vegetables can be taken to a whole new level when you sauté them up in a little natural butter, garlic and ginger!

Another misconception is that eating healthy has to be expensive. This might be true if you’re buying all of those fancy powders, raw treats, “super foods” and other expensive packaged goods at the health food store but these things don’t have to be (and shouldn’t be) the foundation of your diet. Don’t get me wrong, they can certainly add some fun to your diet or spruce up a recipe, but make no mistake, the true healing foods are the ones grown from the earth (i.e. veggies and fruits) not the packaged foods sold in the health food store!

Buy seasonal, local veggies and fruits when you can and familiarize yourself with the dirty dozen and clean 15 to see where it’s safe to skimp on organics. Read my post on organics here. Healthy grains like quinoa and millet can be bought in bulk, and pastas made from spelt and kamut, along with soba (buckwheat) noodles are healthier alternatives to white pasta and all relatively cheap. Starchy veggies like sweet potatoes and winter squashes can also round out a meal nicely and are inexpensive. When it comes to stuff like eggs, dairy and other animal products (if you’re not vegan/vegetarian) I do recommend getting the best quality you can afford. A lot of the times the organic version isn’t that much more expensive than its conventional counterpart. And if you’re forgoing all the packaged health food items then you’ll have a little extra moola to buy better quality in this area. Again, read my post on organics to learn more. It’s all about priority and I think your health is the most important place to start. Besides, you’ll only pay later down the road! Check out my grocery basket from an earlier post to get some ideas. And remember healthy “super foods” don’t have to come from the Himalayas or Peru, they can be found down the street at your local farmers market!

Okay, that’s it for today. Stay tuned for more ways to simplify your life.

Here’s to the simple life!

Elaine

A Trip to Dufferin Grove Farmers’ Market

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Yesterday was such a beautiful and warm, sunny summer day. It only made sense to spend some time outdoors and head over to the Organic Farmers’ Market at Dufferin Grove Park.

I brought along a few reusable totes, hopped on the subway, got off at Dufferin station and walked a short distance south.

I met up with my beautiful food-loving friend Candice (of therealdishto) and we got down to the business of checking out the vendors and sampling some of the goods.

First Stop ChocoSol!

Maybe the best chocolate I've ever tasted

ChocoSol is a small, ecological and inter-communities initiative between farmers in Chiapas, Mexico, sustainable technologists based out of Oaxaca City, Mexico and horizontal traders and chocolatiers in Toronto, Ontario (I took that straight from their site). I think this is pretty cool b/c coincidentally I was in Oaxaca, Mexico earlier this year on a yoga retreat. Kinda random!

The chocolate here is amazing and of course we sampled. Candice ended up with a gigantic bar of the Spicy chocolate. I resisted, reminding myself that I was on a mission to buy fresh veggies and strawberries – that’s it!

Next stop was Forbes Wild Foods.

I decided I would get a little adventurous and buy a few things I’ve never tried before. I ended up with Wild Morel Mushrooms (“one of the most sought after mushrooms in Canada”) along with a heap of Sea Asparagus – a salty seaweed Native to the East and West Coasts of Canada. This stuff is naturally salty so you can snack on it raw, toss it on a salad, or saute it up. The mushrooms on the otherhand should not be eaten raw!

Wild Morel Mushrooms

Sea Asparagus

In fact dinner last night was a delicious omelette made from these tasty wild findings!

Oh, and here’s one of Candice checking out the fresh veggie plants at Urban Harvest.

Lovely Candice

It’s so nice visiting the various farmers’ markets around the city because there is such a feeling of community. And of course it’s nice to support local farmers while knowing exactly where the food you are eating is grown.

What else did I leave with besides the wild edibles mentioned above??

  • Fresh Strawberries – my first local ones of the year! Actually I’m snacking on these right now as I sit here typing this and let me tell you they are fresh and juicy as EVER!
  • Black Kale – some sort of salad recipe will ensue shortly. Stay tuned!
  • Celery – used some of this as a base in my morning green juice. Delish!

The Dufferin Grove Market runs year-round every Thursday from 3-7pm, but it’s only when the weather turns nice that it moves outside. For more details on this charming market visit their website here.

Support local AND organic and check it out!

Summer Heat, Cool Beats (My top 5 wellness tips for kicking off the summer right + a sweet summer deal)

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1. Oxygenate – Get out of the gym and into the sunshine!! Ditch the gym for one day and take your workout outside into the fresh air. Walk, run, swim, bike, play in the park or bounce on your kid’s trampoline (if they are so lucky to have one!). The goal of working out shouldn’t just simply be to burn calories on a boring machine in the gym, especially on a beautiful sunny day. It’s also about feeding every cell of our bodies oxygen – ideally from fresh clean air, and moving our bodies in ways that make us feel flexible, healthy and strong. Dancing on a rooftop patio works wonders too! No need to ditch the gym membership, just shake it up and try something different for a change.

2. Hydrate – I think we all know by now just how important water is to our bodies and to our health. The more we sweat the more we must replenish this vital liquid. Of course if you’re eating lots of water-rich veggies and fruits you won’t have to guzzle back as much agua because you’ll be getting extra hydration through your food. If you find the idea of water boring jazz it up by making homemade lemonade or herbal iced tea. See 2 easy recipes below! Fill up your BPA- free water bottle and sip away all day long.

Homemade Lemonade

Water + juice of ½ a lemon + a few drops of stevia (to sweeten). Remember, stevia is a 100% natural sweetener that has zero calories (if you buy the liquid), and doesn’t affect blood sugar balance. Never use artificial sweeteners!

Homemade Iced Tea

Brew your favorite tea at double strength and pour over a tall glass of ice! Add a little natural sweetener of choice as per the lemonade recipe above. One of my favourite tea shops is David’s Tea. They have a fun selection of loose-leaf teas along with seasonal collections. A few of my personal faves are the Three Lemon Green and Exotica.

3. Make EVERYDAY a salad day. Make at least one meal per day a huge salad. You can add density to it by adding an avocado or a piece of grilled fish, etc. Check out my earlier blog on making simple salads + an easy dressing recipe. Lunch is a great time to do this type of meal, especially if you have to go back to work and sit at a desk all afternoon. You’ll likely go back feeling much more energized and productive rather than feeling like you want to curl up and sleep under your desk George Costanza style!

4. Green juice it (or smoothie it) until lunch at least 1-2 times per week!  For those of you who have been living this type of lifestyle for a while you may try doing it until dinnertime. Summer is a time to feel light and energized. Not heavy and weighed down by three square meals + snacks. Give your digestive system a rest and promote gentle detoxification by lightning your load. The less you take in, the less pile up your digestive system has to contend with later. You can read more about how fabulous green juices are in my earlier blog here. For a tasty smoothie with lots of revitalizing greens try this recipe below!

Berry and Greens Smoothie

¾ pure water

½ cup frozen or fresh berries of choice (blueberries or strawberries work well)

½ an avocado

2 big handfuls of baby spinach or 4-5 kale leaves (remove stems)

Stevia to taste (4-5 drops does the trick)

Blend and drink it up!

*Add a cup of ice if using fresh berries

5. Be inspired.  Do something that brings you joy and fills you with inspiration each and every day. What does it for you? One of my passions (besides the work I do) is music! I equate summer with outdoor concerts and festivals. It seems when you’re living in a big city there’s some event or another going on every single day! If you live in the Toronto area and are a lover of music you can kick off your summer the week of June 13th-19th with North by Northeast Music festival (NXNE) and support Canadian and Indie artists. Feel the love!

And last but not least, here’s a sweet summer deal to help you start off your summer right!

Need a little extra support, motivation or inspiration in achieving your health goals this summer?

CLICK HERE!!!

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for (Dairy-free) Ice-Cream!!

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Summer is just around the corner and things are starting to heat up around here!Whether you are vegan, lactose intolerant, or just looking for a healthier alternative to regular ice-cream, you must check out the below recipes. Using bananas as a base instead of dairy, the sky is the limit when it comes to the different variations of frozen treats you can create in your own kitchen. Whatever your flavor of choice, simply modify the recipes below to get the taste you crave!

Choco-Banana “Ice-Cream” (serves 2)

2 ripe bananas (ripe = naturally sweet)

1 heaping tbsp of raw cacao powder (or unsweetened cocoa powder)

1 tray of ice-cubes

Stevia to taste (approx 5-6 drops) – or your natural sweetener of choice

1 tsp of pure almond extract (optional)

1/4 cup of almond milk to facilitate blending

Blend all ingredients using a high-speed blender

Enjoy immediately while cold or store in the freezer for later!

Choco-Banana "Ice-Cream"

Vanilla Chai “Ice-Cream” (serves two)

2 ripe bananas (ripe = naturally sweet)

1 tbsp of raw tahini

1 tsp of pure vanilla extract

1 tray of ice cubes

1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp of ground cardamom

Stevia to taste ( approx 5-6 drops) – or your natural sweetener of choice

1/4 cup of almond milk to facilitate blending

Blend all ingredients using a high-speed blender

Enjoy immediately while cold or store in the freezer for later.

Vanilla Chai "Ice-Cream"

Hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

xo Elaine

Crazy for Cacao

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Cacao – the bean of the Theobroma Cacao, a plant native to the Central and South Americas, is also the source of most of the chocolate and cocoa products around the world. Is it really any surprise Theobroma literally translates to mean “Food of the Gods”? I think not.

When you take cacao, in its raw form (meaning it’s not heated above 118 degrees F) you are left with a product abundant in antioxidants, incredibly rich in magnesium (perhaps the most concentrated food form), a great source of sulphur (the “beauty” mineral), and a host of other nutrients. It’s really no wonder that cacao is touted as a “super food” by nutritionists and foodies alike!

In its raw form, cacao is a popular ingredient in many raw treats and desserts, and you can find it in powdered, butter, or whole “nib” form. It really just depends on the consistency you are after.  You can use it to make a delicious cup of hot chocolate, add it to your smoothies or even sprinkle it in your morning cup of java. In fact many people have used cacao to transition away from their morning cup of joe since it can produce a similar “buzz” because of the natural caffeine content.

Remember though, cacao is naturally bitter, the reason why dairy and sugar is added to make what most people know as chocolate. So when you’re getting creative in the kitchen, you’ll likely want to pair it with a natural sweetener to get the chocolate taste and experience you so desire.  

Check out two of my favourite smoothie recipes containing raw cacao powder!

Super Smooth Banana Cacao Smoothie

1 ripe banana (ripe = naturally sweet and delicious)

½ an avocado

½ cup of pure water

1 heaping tbsp of raw cacao powder

2-3 drops of stevia (my natural sweetener of choice but you could also use a drizzle of raw honey)

1 cup of ice

Blend and serve cold

Note: the addition of the avocado makes it taste especially creamy and decadent!

 

 Choco-Almond Crunch Smoothie

1 ripe banana

½ cup of unsweetened almond “milk”

1 heaping tbsp of raw cacao powder

1 tbsp of natural crunchy almond butter

1 tsp of raw cacao nibs (optional)

1 cup of ice

Blend and serve cold.

Note – for both of these recipes you can use a frozen banana, in which case omit the ice. Just make sure the banana is ripe before you put it in the freezer.

Happy Friday!

Elaine

Green Juicing it, Baby!

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Imagine injecting yourself with a liquid so abundant in vitality that it goes to work immediately, nourishing every single cell, tissue, gland and organ of your body. Brimming with live enzymes, vitamins and minerals, chlorophyll and deep organic hydration, green juice is a refreshing way to begin your day.

In order to obtain all these wonderful benefits, the juice must be fresh (not store-bought) with raw veggies and a little fruit (if desired), including a nice helping of alkalinizing leafy greens. Virtually all store-bought juices are heated through pasteurization rendering it lifeless. This is why food manufacturers have to add back in a handful of synthetic vitamins and minerals to make their label claims. Heating and processing also destroys the enzymes, so fresh juices are a great way to ensure you are taking in lots of live enzymes needed for digestion and other metabolic functions. Our bodies do produce enzymes naturally, but with age our enzyme stores become depleted, and the more cooked and processed food we eat, the more enzymes our bodies need to produce to breakdown the devitalized food. When you drink fresh juices (and eat raw, unprocessed food) essentially you are making a deposit into your body’s enzyme bank for future use!

The Gold is in the Green

All fresh fruits and veggies carry the sun’s energy, but it’s the leafy greens that are most abundant in this synthesized sunlight, otherwise known as chlorophyll. Imagine guzzling down a glass of liquid sunshine! Chlorophyll is considered the “life blood” of the plant, and it’s no surprise that it also happens to be a powerful blood builder, delivering oxygen to all our cells and tissues.

Greens are also highly alkalinizing, a welcoming change to the acidic nature of the modern western diet. The pH of our body is slightly alkaline, the natural state our bodies fight to maintain, even if it means leaching alkaline minerals from our own bones to neutralize the acidity of the food taken in. This is one of the many reasons why diets that are primarily plant-based are so healing. However, you don’t have to be a vegan or vegetarian to incorporate more of the good stuff into your daily mix!

What about the Fibre? (Juicing vs. Blending)

During the juicing process, the vital liquid of the plant is extracted from the indigestible fibre. Without any fibre to break-down, the juice is absorbed and assimilated by your body in a matter of minutes.  This means that the juice can go straight to work nourishing and revitalizing every cell in your body, bypassing the digestive process. This is the difference between juicing and blending because blended juices and smoothies still contain the fibre so are unable to revitalize our cells in the same way as fresh juices can. Now before you go dumping your kale smoothie down the drain, I’m not by any means saying you don’t need fibre.  Fibre is a vital intestinal broom and very much needed by our bodies.  This is why in addition to fresh-pressed juices, whole veggies and fruits should still be an integral part of your daily food-intake. Think fresh salads, blended smoothies and soups, green wraps, and sautéd, steamed and baked veggies. The sky’s the limit! 

Perfect Timing

The best time to drink your fresh juice is on an empty stomach, ideally before you have your first meal of the day. This allows for optimal absorption and assimilation because once you throw food into the mix your digestive system has to work harder. You can enjoy your green juice anytime of the day though as long as it’s on an empty stomach. It’s also great as a late afternoon snack about 3 hours or so after your last meal or an hour or so before dinner. Try swapping your 3pm coffee for an emerald-green juice!

Optimally, juice is best taken in immediately after it’s prepared because once it’s exposed to oxygen and light the enzymatic integrity is compromised. With that said though, you’ll still benefit greatly from drinking the juice even hours after it’s made just as long as you store it in an airtight container and keep it cold in the refrigerator. A day old green juice is WAY better than no green juice at all. For some people, making the juice the night before works better with their schedule. I say whatever makes it easier for you to incorporate these elixirs into your daily routine is the best way to go!

Tips on juicing

1. Frequenting juice bars can weigh heavy on the wallet so I wholeheartedly recommend buying a juicer. It’s a small price to pay when you think of it as an investment in your health. Breville has a great line of juicers that range from lower end prices to higher end. I payed in the $150-$180 range for my Breville and I really do love it. I actually just saw the same model on sale a few weeks ago for $135 (at the Bay) – a steal!

My Breville!

2. Use organic produce (and in-season) as often as possible. If you must use non-organic, make sure to peel the skin from your lemons, cucumbers and apples to avoid pesticides and waxes.

3. You want your juices to be green but not overly green. Dark greens can taste quite medicinal and that’s definitely not the goal. Lighter greens such as cucumber and celery have a high water content so you get a lot of bang for your buck. Make these lighter greens the bulk of your juice with the addition of a big handful of leafy greens.

4. If you desire a little added sweetness throw in 1-2 apples. I especially recommend this for beginners because it will truly make the green juice delicious. The kiddos will love it too! Keep in mind though that citrus fruits such as lemons and limes cut the taste of bitter greens really nicely without the added sugars (in case you’re avoiding fruit sugars for any reason). Carrots and beets will also sweeten things up nicely as well.

5. Herbs such as parsley, mint, and cilantro are great additions for a little additional zip.

6. For a touch of heat try a small slice of jalapeño pepper or ginger but remember a little goes a long way!

7. If you’re still enjoying your cup of coffee in the morning just be sure to drink your green juice at least 30 minutes on either side of it because coffee is acidic in the body.

Here are two of my favorite detoxifying green juice recipes:

Green Citrus Elixir
5-6 leave of kale, swiss chard or collard greens
½ head of celery
1 lemon
Slice of ginger (optional)

 

Green Refresher
Spinach
1 cucumber
A few sprigs of mint
1 lemon
1 apple (optional)

An inaugural green juice! I brought Michelle to Kale Organic Eatery for her very first green juice experience. I think she was sold!

On a final note, I’d just like to say that my daily green juice has become a sacred part of my morning routine, and on the days when I’m rushed and don’t make time for it, my body truly misses it. If you’re at all interested in deep tissue cleansing, fresh-pressed green juices are a mandatory.

Here’s to green juicing it all the way to the bank – the enzyme bank that is!

Elaine

Summer Love

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I love days like today.

Easy breezy.

You couldn’t ask for better weather.

Hanging out in Trinity Bellwoods Park…

Drinking Green Juice…

Joy of Joyous Health

In good company.

I love summer:)

Fave Fridays – Sweet Indulgences

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I’ve always had a bit of a sweet tooth. It comes and goes, sometimes disappearing for weeks, even months at a time, but it always finds its way home and back into my mouth!   

Even at a ripe young age I was always able to fully appreciate a little sweet indulgence.  

Check out the pic of me circa the early eighties blissed-out on chocolate pudding! 

No comment on the wallpaper!

Mini Me

A few years down the road I decided to kick it up a notch, and take matters into my own hands by donning the apron myself!  

Here’s me (slightly maturer) presenting my fresh from the oven, easy-bake cake. I remember the caption on the original photo saying “Elaine baked her first cake”. Judging by the expression on my face, I no doubt took the challenge seriously. My supportive brother also appeared very proud of my accomplishment:)

Bake off!

Nowadays when my sweet tooth begs attention, I’ll occasionally stop into places like this. More often than not though, I’ll create a little something in my own kitchen, such as this personal fave below.  

The best thing about it (besides the taste of course!) is that it’s simple to make and doesn’t require any baking. Actually, to be precise; it takes about 5 minutes to whip up. After that it’s a bit of a waiting game – depending on how long you can hold out!  

Recipe – No Bake Almond & Hazelnut Healthy Fudge   

Ingredients    

2 cups of almond hazelnut butter (or natural nut butter of your choice)   

½ cup raw honey   

2 heaping Tbsp of raw cocoa powder   

1 Tbsp of coconut oil   

1 tsp of pure vanilla extract   

Pinch of sea salt   

Instructions  

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir until smooth  

Spread into a square pan   

Pop in the freezer for about 20 -30 minutes then remove. Once frozen, the fudge is difficult to cut into pieces so it’s best to do this while it’s still somewhat soft, yet firm.  

Put back in the freezer for 2 more hours (or longer).  

Remove from freezer, take a piece or two, then put back! When left out on the counter it will start to melt, so it’s best to just take out what you plan on eating immediately. 

Hope you enjoy:)   

Elaine