Walnut Brownie Recipe

The following information is for education only and is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or treat illness.

Today I want to share with you an awesome raw brownie recipe with walnuts and cacao (healthy, dairy-free raw chocolate). I know it's cliche to say this, but I was seriously unable to tell that these were raw and weren't the "real" deal.

Let's talk about some of the main ingredients. First... walnuts.. Walnuts are a highly nutritious superfood and are high in essential fatty acids, specifically ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). Essential fats (Omega 3's) are very important to overall health. Among the potential health benefits, they are said to help reduce the possibility of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure. According to some studies they may also help to reduce LDL (the bad chlosterol).

Now, if you enjoy chocolate , as you probably do if you live on this planet (and you are visiting this page) eating some dark cacao "here and there" can really pack a punch in terms of anti-oxidants (when choosing raw, organic, sugar-free cacao). This brownie recipe has to have some sort of chocolate in it to qualify as a brownie, but there is no need to choose an unhealthy variety to get the same delicious taste. Also, you will be doing the body good as it has a lot less (or none) of the "bad stuff", plus lots of "good stuff".

Cacao has 300+ compounds which include: protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, iron, zinc, copper, calcium and magnesium. Cacao is also high in sulfur, which can help form strong nails and hair. It has the chemical phenylethylamine (PEA). PEA is an adrenal-related chemical that is naturally created when we get excited. Too much cacao may result in "adrenal fatigue" as some raw foodists have admitted to have fallen victim to. So, despite it's healthful and feel-good properties, cacao should probably be enjoyed responsibly :)

Equipment Needed:

• Food Processor

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of raw walnuts (soaked for a few hours)
• 3 cups of dates
• 1 cup of raw cacao powder
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup of dried coconut
• 1/3 cup of raw honey (or other raw sweetener)
• 1 pinch of sea salt (optional)

Directions:

1. Process the walnuts first.
2. Add the dates and process again.
3. Process remaining ingredients in food processor and then spread the mixture into a glass brownie pan.
4. Serve.

At this stage you can create a nice chocolate "icing" for your brownies if the mood strikes you. To do that, use a scaled down version of the recipe above, but remove the walnuts and add some coconut oil. Also, add some water. The amount of water you use will determine if it has a "pudding" consistency or more of an "icing" consistency.