Chocolate and Cherries? Okay.

It’s day 5 of our little Paleo-like experiment, where we’ve decided to cut out grains, beans, most sugars, dairy, and (the hardest one for me) chips for a month and focus instead on fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, and seeds. Most of this is no big deal– I already gave up wheat for life-long lent and forsook cow juice for the coconut kind a while back. But the tortilla chips…that’s a challenge.

I made some fun treats this past Sunday. I call this experimental way of eating and food preparation “Paleo-like” because it’s just that: kind of like what our cave(wo)man ancestors used to eat many moons ago. I dare say they had no food processors or fine almond meal that I used in the recipes listed below. I bet they also did not get coconut milk from a can…from Food Hole. More on this aspect of Paleo later.

For now, here’s two simple, yummy, Paleo-like recipes that are sans grains, beans, and dairy. They are fast, easy, and pleasing to kids, adults, and probably dogs too– although chocolate and avocados are not canine-safe.

 

Cherry Chocolate Brownies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8×8 glass dish with 1 tsp coconut oil.

1 c almond flour (blanched) or almond meal

2 Tbsp finely shredded, unsweetened coconut

2 Tbsp flax meal

1/4 tsp fine sea salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 Tbsp coconut sugar

1 Tbsp 100% cocoa powder

Stir these dry ingredients together, then mix in with a hand blender:

2 eggs (organic and pastured, if possible)

1 Tbsp raw honey (from a local source, if possible)

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Then stir in with a wooden spoon:

1/2 c dried, unsweetened cherries that have been soaked in water to rehydrate, then drained

1/2 c cocoa nibs

Spread into prepared dish and bake at 350 for 15 min. Allow to cool, cut, and serve.

“Let’s Do Organic” brand

 

Coco-Banana Ice Cream

3 frozen bananas

1 ripe avocado

2 Tbsp canned coconut milk (not lite)

shredded, unsweetened coconut for topping

1/4 c raw, unsalted pistachios to mix in, if desired.

Place first three ingredients in food processor and process till smooth. Stir in pistachios, if desired. Divide into 2-4 dishes. Or 1 if you’re like that. Garnish with coconut flakes. Eat while cold.

 

These recipes are great for anyone, no matter how you eat or what you’re like. I contest that they are more like what we eat now (or should be) than what our primal ancestors ate. So dig in and enjoy.