Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Herbal Power Balls

Greetings to Everyone! Most of my summer garden has now finally been put to bed for the winter. New Oriental lily bulbs have been planted and the vegetable and flower seeds have been ordered for next year, too. I still need to trim the balance of my lavender plants, echinacea, and comfrey, though. Gardening is such a delight, but the garden itself requires considerable maintenance so as not to cultivate a crop of weeds!

I hope all of you are preparing for a relaxing, joyful Holiday season ahead! On that note, today I'm going to share with you one of my favorite raw candies that will boost your energy and stimulate circulation in a most nutritious and delicious way. If you love almonds, honey, and warming, crystallized ginger root, then you'll adore this luscious candy! The little candy balls are quite simple to create and make wonderful "dessert finger foods" to take to a Holiday party. They do contain a wee bit of caffeine from the guarana powder and give a hint of an energy kick from the Siberian and panax ginseng powders. Enjoy!

Yummy Herbal Power Balls

Unlike playing a lottery game such as Power Ball, where your odds of winning millions of dollars are slim to none, eating these Yummy Herbal Power Balls on a consistent basis will make you truly feel like a million bucks! These soft, sticky balls are too gooey to make good portable energy snacks to carry around in your purse or briefcase; they are best eaten straight out of the refrigerator while still firm, chilled, and relatively dry.

Ingredients:

- 1 cup raw almonds
- 1/2 cup crystallized gingerroot pieces
- 1/2 cup raw honey
- 2 tablespoons bee pollen
- 2 tablespoons Siberian ginseng root (eleuther0) powder
- 2 teaspoons panax ginseng root powder
- 2 teaspoons guarana powder
- coconut oil, raw and unrefined
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut, finely shredded

Method:

1. Grind the almonds to the consistency of a medium to fine meal in a food processor or nut and seed grinder.

2. Dice the crystallized ginger into 1/4-inch cubes, or smaller.

3. Transfer the almond meal and ginger to a medium-size bowl and add the honey, bee pollen, and herb powders. Use your hands to mash all the ingredients together until a cohesive ball is formed. The dough will be very sticky.

4. Wash and dry your hands after mixing and then oil them well with the coconut oil. Pinch off pieces of dough and roll them into marble-size balls about 1 1/4-inches in diameter. Set aside on waxed paper.

5. Put the shredded coconut in a shallow bowl and roll each ball to coat.

6. For the best flavor and consistency, allow the balls to set for 24 hours in the fridge before eating. Store in a tightly-sealed container in the refrigerator and consume within 2 or 3 weeks.

A Good Source Of: calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, manganese, magnesium, healthful fats, natural sugars, protein, vitamins B and E, and fiber

Yield: About 22 balls

Note: This article was adapted from the book, "Raw Energy", by Stephanie Tourles, Storey Publishing, 2009. The information is true and complete to the best of Ms. Tourles' knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of Ms. Tourles. She disclaims any liability with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Sweet-n-Chewy Calcium-Rich Sesame Candy

Greetings from the Maine Coast . . . Yep, we just experienced our first freak snowstorm of the year this past weekend! Only got 3 inches, but snow before Halloween is an unwelcome sight, especially when the oak trees are still laden with leaves. I think Mother Nature has something interesting and unusual up her sleeve for winter this year . . . and this storm was her "Halloween Trick". C'est la vie . . . at least we didn't get the 25" plus snowfall amounts that Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire received! Too early for that indeed.

Today I'll continue with my "whole foods as supplements" blog series and share with you an ever-so-tasty raw candy recipe that will fill you up, satisfy your sweet craving, and give you a boost of much-needed plant-based calcium. I eat these sweet sesame seed balls quite often and take them to parties as "healthy dessert bites" especially during the Holidays as they look like little snowballs. They're so good for you that you can even toss back a couple as you run out the door in the morning and call them breakfast! Most excellent with a cup of coffee or hot chai tea. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Sesame Seed Honey Balls

Regular consumption of this mildly sweet, guilt-free, raw candy will lend a glow to your hair, skin, and nails, replenish your core energy reserve, or as the Chinese refer to it . . . your chi, and strengthen your bones. If you tend to have painful menstrual cramps, are constipated, or have restless legs, you will definitely benefit from the fiber-rich seeds and bountiful calcium and magnesium contained within these yummy balls. Here's to your health!

Ingredients:

- 20 small, dried, black Mission figs
- 1 cup raw sesame seeds, hulled or unhulled
- 2 tablespoons raw honey
- pinch of sea salt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut, finely shredded
- 2 tablespooons raw (cacao) or cocoa powder or raw carob powder (optional), but either adds
a wonderful flavor and added minerals

Method:

1. Remove the stems from the figs. Soak the figs for 4 hours in enough purified water to cover by 1 inch. Drain. Chill and reserve the soak water to drink later for a refreshing treat, if you desire.

2. Put the figs, sesame seeds, honey, and salt (and optional cacao or carob powder, if desired) in the food processor and blend for 20 to 30 seconds. Remove the lid and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Replace the lid and blend again until a moist, slightly sticky, granular dough forms, about 10 seconds. Repeat the process if needed.

3. Scrape the dough into a medium bowl. Put the coconut in another medium bowl.

4. Pinch off pieces of the dough and roll into balls approximately 1 inch in diameter. Toss the balls into the coconut to coat.

5. Store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or in the freezer for up to 6 months The chews are delicious eaten right out of the freezer.

Yield: Approximately 25 to 30 balls

A Good Source Of: vitamins B and E, iron, copper, zinc, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, natural sugars, protein, healthful fat, and fiber


NOTE: This article was written by Stephanie Tourles and adapted from her book, "Raw Energy", Storey Publishing, 2009. The information is true and complete to the best of Stephanie's knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of Ms. Tourles. She disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only.