Tag: raw cacao

Blender Waffles

Posted on Categories Chocolate, Coconut, Gluten Free, i love making things, Meals and snacks, Recipes, recipes your kids will love, UncategorizedTags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Blender Waffles Loula Natural

When I was 20 I went to the U.S.A to be a camp counsellor in New Haven, Connecticut. I absolutely loved it. I was there for almost 3 months, 8 weeks at camp and then almost 4 weeks traveling as south as South Carolina (I absolutely loved Charleston) and as north as Toronto. I was introduced to many new culinary species on that trip (man the American’s have rubbish cheese and chocolate- well they did in those days my blogger friends insist things have changed!) but the thing that stuck for me was waffles with maple syrup and bacon. Stuck-like-glue, I just love the salty sweet combination.

Over the years I always ordered it in a restaurant and make pancakes all the time but waffles always seemed like such a faff. NOT ANYMORE! 

Blender Waffles action Loula Natural

Blender waffles she says! My pancake making days were instantly changed when I found blender pancakes, the mix of healthy fats and protein in the eggs and almond/coconut flour, plus the natural sweetness of the banana has given my kids pancakes way more often- even on school days! Grain free too which make these perfect for me and my family. So I took this combo and played with the consistency and thus blender waffles are born!

I now make 2 different types; Chocolate Waffles (very rich chocolatey flavour with zero added sugar) and Vanilla Waffles. I have included both for you- you’re welcome!

Vanilla Blender Waffles
A gluten-free and super simple waffle recipe. All you need is a blender and 5 simple ingredients!
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Ingredients
  1. 6 eggs (pasture raised if possible)
  2. 3 medium banana's
  3. 3 tbsp coconut flour
  4. 5 tbsp almond/oat flour
  5. 1 tbsp collagen hydrolysate
  6. 1/2 tsp Vanilla
  7. pinch of pink Himalayan salt
Instructions
  1. Add all of the ingredients to the blender and blitz on high until smooth. Pour into a heated waffle iron. Close waffle iron and cook for 4.5 minutes.
Notes
  1. I love to serve mine with bacon, maple syrup, almond butter and banana.
Loula Natural https://loulanatural.com/
 Here are the chocolate ones! These are nice served with cream and berries.

Waffle Iron Loula Natural

Chocolate Blender Waffles
Rich, bitter cacao with the natural sweetness of banana. Full of healthy fats and protein. Blender waffles are super simple and only have 7 ingredients that you probably have in your house. Grain free these are paleo friendly.
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Ingredients
  1. 6 eggs (pasture raised if possible)
  2. 3 medium banana's
  3. 3 tbsp coconut/almond flour
  4. 7 tbsp /raw cacao powder
  5. 1 tbsp collagen hydrolysate
  6. 1/2 tsp Vanilla
  7. dash of milk/water kefir
  8. pinch of pink Himalayan salt
Instructions
  1. Add all of the ingredients to the blender and blitz on high until smooth. Pour into heated waffle iron and cook for 4.5 minutes.
Notes
  1. I like to serve these black forrest style, with whipped cream or coconut cream and cherries or mixed berries.
Loula Natural https://loulanatural.com/
Let me know if you try them…

Blender Waffles Loula Natural Pin

Choco Coco Snackaroons

Posted on Categories baby led weaning, Chocolate, Coconut, Gluten Free, i love making things, kids nutrition, Meals and snacks, Natural Alternatives, Nutrition, Raw, Recipes, recipes your kids will love, UncategorizedTags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment on Choco Coco Snackaroons

Choco coco snackaroons Loula Natural fb Choco Coco Snackaroons

As my daughter is back to school its all about snacks and lunches for me- coming up with ideas to keep her going and keeping her balanced is another full time job!!

So when I saw a pack of coconut macaroons in the health food shop I was interested in maybe seeing if she liked them- then I saw the price of them! I put them back and decided to make them myself. 

Choco snackaroon Loula Natural ball

I actually made these with my two year old son today they are that easy!!!

Coco Snackaroons
Yields 20
A delicious and nutritious snack for any age and any time of day! Made with real foods and a great amount of healthy fats.
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Ingredients
  1. 2 cup shredded coconut
  2. 1 cup of dates
  3. 3 tbsp raw cacao
  4. pinch of salt
  5. vanilla essence
  6. 1tsp Coconut oil (optional)
  7. Optional extras;
  8. Ground almonds
  9. Chia seeds
  10. Sesame seeds/black sesame powder
Instructions
  1. Add all the ingredients to a food processor and blitz until sticky. Use the coconut oil if you need help binding everything together and to add nutrients.
  2. Ball mixture to the size you desire- for kids I do large marble size
  3. Store in the fridge
Loula Natural https://loulanatural.com/
Here is my pinterest board with my lunchbox ideas;
Follow Pinterest’s board Pin pets on Pinterest.

Loula Natural
 

Here they are in my daughters lunchbox this week!

snackaroons in lunchbox Loula Natural

Choco coco snackaroons Loula Natural pin

Chocolate Fudge

Posted on Categories Chocolate, Gluten Free, Raw, Recipes, recipes your kids will loveTags , , , , , Leave a comment

Chocolate Fudge Loula Natural fb

I always try to pack in the nutrients especially when making food for the kids to eat. I love my vanilla butter fudge and my homemade chocolate so I thought I would combine the two to give a rich, dense softer fudgy consistency to my chocolate

It is so yummy!

Chocolate Fudge
A rich, dark chocolaty fudge that is junk free and packed with essential fats and nutrients. Great for all ages and sweetend with coconut sugar
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Ingredients
  1. 1/2 cup cocoa butter
  2. 1/4 cup coconut oil
  3. 1/4 cup ghee
  4. 1 cup raw cacao
  5. Coconut Icing sugarto sweeten to taste
  6. Hazelnut and Vanilla Essence (optional)
Instructions
  1. For a smooth texture and for all the fats to emulsify throw all the ingredients into your blender or food processor and blend until smooth. You can also stir this up in a measuring cup
  2. Pour into molds or onto baking paper on a baking sheet.
  3. Freeze or refrigerate until set.
Adapted from Homemade chocolate
Adapted from Homemade chocolate
Loula Natural https://loulanatural.com/
Chocolate Fudge Loula Natural pin

Cacao Heaven

Posted on Categories Chocolate, Education, kids nutrition, Meals and snacks, Nutrition, Recipes, recipes your kids will love, UncategorizedTags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Cacao Beans

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I love chocolate.  So does my daughter. Finding foods that our kids will love that will also love them is tough. They are going to come across a whole range of foods in their social lives and we want to equip them to make good choices.

You will have heard that chocolate is very good for you and its health benefits are numerous. This is true but sadly no-one is talking about the milk chocolate, Kit Kats or things we grab on the go from our convenience stores. Raw cacao (in butter, nibs which are the bits of the bean before they are ground and powder form) is where the goodness lies. Cacao is chocolate in its bean form, before it is roasted, extracted and processed then mixed with sugar, milk, preservatives and other fillers and flavours. It contains antioxidants and minerals and its benefits amongst others are;

  • weight loss due to its chromium content which in turn also
  • Regulate blood sugar along with the magnesium content
  • Prevent cavities in your teeth (the caffeine content in cacao contains theobromine which can help kill bacteria in your mouth that causes tooth decay- it is lost in the process to milk chocolate.)
  • Helps alkaline your body (conventional chocolate is acid forming because of its sugar content)
  • Helps detoxification and contains powerful anti-oxidants.
  • Gives a gentle euphoric feeling without the sugar crash afterwards.

It’s what we do to the cacao and add to it that give “chocolate” the opposite list of effects.  Raw Cacao is incredibly bitter to those more used to even dark chocolate so start by replacing milk chocolate with 70% dark chocolate and work your way towards using the raw cacao powder as your hot chocolate.

Eva's Hot Cacao

If you find nibs pair them with a Goji berry or a raisin and you are close to ‘chocolate’ flavour as we know it. Try it yourself and with your kids. 10 tries are enough to convince your taste buds!

Pairing coconut with chocolate is a match made in taste and nutrient heaven- healthy Bounty bars!. Coconuts are anti bacterial, anti microbial, naturally sweet, packed with vitamins, essential fats and amino acids and minerals too. This recipe is a massive favourite in our house- a brilliant way to be able to say yes guilt free and isn’t that what we all want?  I hope it will be in yours too. My friend came up with it so it is named for her!

Other Chocolate Recipes

Beetroot Brownies

Chocolate Truffels

Homemade Raw Twix

Iced Mocha

Chocolate cupcakes

Chocolate Chip cookies

This article was written for The Hub

Here’s some good reading;

Coconut Cures- Bruce Fife http://www.amazon.com/Coconut-Cures-Preventing-Treating-Problems/dp/0941599604

http://www.wellnesswa.com.au/2012/11/eat-your-way-to-good-health-raw-cacao-powder-a-deliciously-simple-home-made-chocolate-recipe/

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-numerous-health-benefits-of-coconuts-2.html

http://www.secrets-of-longevity-in-humans.com/raw-cacao-benefits.html

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