Primal Protein Bliss Balls

Well hey there, friend! Just a quick one today because 

a) chances are you came to this post on the promise of a recipe and really don’t give a crap about anything else I have to say and 

b) I’m a little short on time. See – short posts keep everyone happy!

But first – an update! Yes, I lured you here with a tempting recipe with the caveat that you must be updated on my happenings.

I am re-building my website over at www.theholisticnutritionist.com. In a few weeks time, this is where all of my blogging will be happening. Just trying to keep things a little tidier. I hear it’s what all the professionals do. But you don’t have to wait a few weeks – you can go and sign up for my newsletter right now! You know you want to. I promise not to inundate your inbox with annoying updates that you won’t even have time to read. My goal is to send ONE really useful newsletter about ONCE a month, which will include a recipe and maybe another secret squirrel tip that you won’t get unless you are in the circle of trust (AKA signed up for the newsletter). So go on – then you can go and make your Primal Protein Bliss Balls knowing that you have helped a sista out.

Primal Protein Bliss Balls (makes 10-12 balls)

Truth be told, I have never been much of a balls girl. Bliss balls, I mean, you sicko! I find them fiddly (you’re still thinking dirty thoughts, aren’t you? Stop it!). And hard to get just right. Somehow, I nailed it with these ones. Yes, giving myself a high-5.

Ha!

These can also be made with just seeds (a great option for the kids to take to school every now and then) and, if you wanted, you could swap the protein powder for another dry ingredient – maybe ½ cacao powder and ½ maca powder?

I probably would not recommend having these every day, as dates are quite high in sugar. However, if it’s these or an LCM bar…..you know what to do.

Here’s the goods - 

• 5 medjool dates, pitted
• ½ cup hazelnuts
• ½ cup seeds (e.g. sunflower, pumpkin)
• ¼ cup dessicated coconut
• 4T coconut oil, melted
• Sprinkle of vanilla powder
• ¼ cup chocolate protein powder (vanilla would probably work too)

Method

1. Add all ingredients to blender and blend well on high until ingredients stick together when pressed (around 30secs-1min)
2. Scoop out small amounts (about 1T), squeeze together in hands and roll/press into balls
3. Taste-test at least one, then store in an air-tight container in the fridge or freezer 

How easy is that?! Let me know how you go and please share any variations that you know work well.

Be kind to yourself! x

Paleo Coco-Apple Cookies

Have I told you that I have an apple tree? It lives on my front yard. Small children come and steal apples from it as I stare out at them in excitement that I can provide fresh food for the neighbourhood. I try not to look creepy, but something tells me that peering out from behind a curtain inside the house is not the way to go about this.

Don't leave now! I have something yummy to share!

Apples from my apple tree

As winter sets in, the fruits of my labour someone else’s hard work are falling to the ground and dwindling in supplies. As I am a bit of a stickler for not wasting food, I realised that I had to make something with all of these fallen apples and I had to do it quick. I also did not want a lot of fuss. And I did not want it to be an overly expensive production (like my $50 paleo no-bake mixed berry cheesecake, which was worth every penny). Having a look at the ingredients in my cupboard, I decided I would attempt to make cookies.

I’m not much of a cookie person. I find they are never as good as expected (unless you have the triple choc cookies from Subway in Tamworth. I have no idea what they did to those cookies, but damn they were good!). So I was pleasantly surprised when these cookies turned out as delicious as they did! So delicious that I have trouble stopping at 1! I hope you enjoy these little morsels of goodness as much as I do.

Coco-Apple Cookies (makes 15 cookies)

Ingredients

• 2 cups red apple, chopped (skin on)
• 1 cup dessicated coconut
• 1 cup raw almonds (activated, if you wish)
• 1T coconut oil, melted
• 1-3 tsp cinnamon (I have abnormally intense cinnamon at the moment, so only used 1tsp, but feel free to use more)
• A few grinds of vanilla bean powder (or ¼- ½ tsp vanilla powder; more if using vanilla extract)
• 3 eggs 

Method

1. Preheat oven to 175 degrees C
2. Prepare a baking/cookie tray with baking paper
3. Add all ingredients, except eggs, to a food processor and blend for a few seconds until ingredients are combined (they do not have to be smooth – lumps and chunks are fun, if you’re a texture-lover like me!)
4. Combine this mixture with the eggs in a mixing bowl and mix well
5. Spoon out dollops of mixture (about 1T each) and place on cookie tray. Use the back of a fork to spread the mixture out into more of a “pattie” shape
6. Bake until set – about 20-30mins (check at 20 – dry cookies suck)

And in case you can't figure out whether or not to eat the cookies….

Image via Alex Hayward, Pinterest

That's all today. Nice and short! Be kind to yourself, and others (hint hint – share your cookies!). x

How to use coconut flesh, and why you should

I’m not going to lie. I was less than excited when I was told I would be completing my community placement in South West Sydney. Not because I’m an Eastern suburbs snob (that’s what you were thinking, wasn’t it?), but because I don’t find the prospect of driving 2-3 hours per day all that appealing. Do you?

Anyway, all snobbery and complaints aside, my community placement is pretty freakin’ amazing.

We are working on the Macarthur Future Food Forum, which is concerned with ensuring a healthy food supply and fair access to food for everyone. Here’s a little about what they do (copied and pasted from their website, which you can check out HERE):

• Support local food access projects
• Lobby to protect local agriculture
• Work with others in the region on food issues
• Stalls at community events
• Lobbying for a healthy and sustainable food supply

Pretty cool, hey? If this kind of stuff doesn’t interest you, or you don’t think it concerns you, please step away from the computer and go head-butt a wall.

All of this concerns all of us.

And if it doesn’t concern you now, it definitely will in the future when all of the fresh produce is gone and we have to survive on twinkies and spam. Won’t be so disinterested then, will you?

Go and learn more at www.sustainabletable.com.au about how you can improve the future of our food system.

So what has this all got to do with coconuts, you say? 

Well, as many of you are aware, I work with Sarah Wilson as a nutrition expert for herI Quit Sugar program. Sarah is a cool chick, who is also passionate about all of this crunchy hippy sustainable food biz. I like to read her blog. You should too. Anyway, this week Sarah spoke about how food wastage makes her angry. It makes me angry too. We waste so much food, and considering more than 2 million Australians go hungry every year, that’s pretty disgraceful, don’t you think? 

In this post of hers, she mentions young coconuts and how often we will drink the water inside and simply toss the shell. What’s the problem with that, you say? Well, it’s wasteful. And inside the shell is a whole lot of yummy, nutritious flesh! So it got me thinking. How about I do a “quick” post (you know that’s not possible for me) on ways to use coconut flesh, and why you should. All in the spirit of wasting less food! Cue intended starting point for blog post.

Why should you eat coconut flesh?

Aside from being resourceful with your food, the flesh of the coconut has many health benefits, including:

• It is rich in medium chain fatty acids which are readily absorbed and utilised as fuel
• The main fatty acid, lauric acid (which is also found in breast milk, and there is no denying how good that stuff is for you!) has amazing anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. Healthy immune system, here we come!
• It is high in fibre = perfect poop
• It is rich in manganese, which helps with the metabolism of carbs, fats and proteins, as well as assisting with bone formation
• Good source of copper, which aids in the absorption and utilisation of iron. Even better, copper helps to manufacture collagen and heal wounds! Woot woot!
• Provides potassium to help maintain the body’s fluid and electrolyte balance, cell integrity, nerve impulse transmission and muscle contraction.

How to use coconut flesh:

1. Get a spoon and eat it raw
2. Blend it up into a chocolate mousse (go HERE for my recipe)
3. Add it to a chicken curry – cut it up into strips and simply toss it in during cooking
4. Chop it up and add it to your breakfast instead of coconut flakes
5. Throw it in the oven and roast it with some coconut oil and cinnamon
6. Toss some into your favourite green smoothie
7. Make coconut milk by whizzing it up with some water
8. Coconut flesh, lemon juice, water. Blend. Drink

There you go. You have at least 8 reasons why you should eat your coconut flesh and 8 ways to do so. So no more excuses for tossing it in the bin, hey?

How do you use your coconut flesh? Non-sexual suggestions only, please.