Comfort Food Done Raw

Hello Readers . . . I hope your day is going better than mine. Let me explain . . . Today, I was going to start a new 2-3 part blog on the topic of "cellulite" and how to get rid of that pesky "orange peel" appearance . . . you know . . . before we all have to bare our legs and bellies and don bikinis and shorts. But . . . I changed my mind. I'll get to that topic in a few weeks. Why, you ask? Well, we still have 3' of snow on the ground here in northern, coastal Maine and, as luck would have it, we received 2" of rain between last night and this morning - resulting in rapid snow melt - which flooded the street and drainage ditch in front of my house. I live on a slight slope. All of that water and accumulated gravel, bits of asphalt, sand, and frozen ice chunks had nowhere to go except down my sloping street, following the edge of the high frozen snow bank along the road. So, as soon as the torrent of water found the path of least resistance - that being my previously shoveled walkway to the mail box and my gravel driveway - in it all came - right into my front yard and driveway - carving little canyons and bringing with it tons of blackish debris. Yuck - what a mess! So . . . now I have a lot of spring yard clean-up to do! Needless to say, my previous good morning mood went right into the proverbial toilet . . . or right down my driveway along with all the mud and debris.

I decided, right then and there, that I deserved a depression-lifter - comfort food if you will - and what better way to improve my mood that to make some raw fudge? Chocolate does wonders to raise the spirits! At least this decadent, rich raw fudge is totally fabulous - both nutrition and taste-wise. I'll share the recipe with you. Enjoy and think warm, sunny, springtime thoughts! Be careful not to eat the whole pan . . . it's that good!

Raw Mexican Dark Chocolate-Blueberry Divine Fudge

Experience raw candy decadence at its finest! If you're familiar with the taste of Mexican chocolate, then you know it can have a pungent bite. This unique fudge has plenty of tongue-tantalizing flavors and textures: Bitter and sweet, hot and rich, smooth and chewy, melt-in-your mouth gooey! With regular consumption - and YES - you actually can eat this on a regular basis because it is SO good for you - you'll see an increase in outer glow and feel a surge of inner vitality from this luscious, nutrient-packed confection. P.S. I've been known to have a piece or 2 or 3 along with a glass of raw almond milk, and call it breakfast! YUM!

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup raw, unrefined coconut oil
- 1 cup dried blueberies, sweetened with apple juice, or unsweetened
- 1 cup raw cocoa (caca0) powder
- 1/2 cup raw almond butter
- 2 tablespoons raw agave nectar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Method:
1. If the coconut oil is solid, set the jar in a pan of very hot water or in a warm, sunny window to liquefy.
2. Put the coconut oil, blueberries, cocoa, almond butter, agave, chili powder, cinnamon, cayenne powder, and salt in a large bowl and stir to blend until a stiff ball forms; there will be small lumps of blueberries.
3. Coat the bottom of an 8-inch square pan with a bit of coconut oil or line with waxed paper. Spread the fudge mixture into the pan to an approximate depth of 1 inch. Cover and freeze for 1 hour, until very firm.
4. Remove from the freezer and allow the mixture to soften slightly for about 20 minutes. Cut the fudge into 1 1/2-inch squares. Store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months or in the freezer for 6 months. Do not allow the fudge to sit at room temperature for too long or it will melt.

Yield: About 24 pieces

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

NOTE: This article is by Stephanie Tourles, Lic. Holistic Esthetician, Herbalist, and raw food enthusiast. It is adapted from her book, "Raw Energy", Storey Publishing, copyright 2009. The information in this article is true and complete to the best of her 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.