Caveman Treats

Chocolate Cravings

Let's face it!  We all get cravings.  Especially when it comes to chocolate.  Why should we have to suffer through life without it just because we choose to keep a clean diet.  Paleo allows for chocolate, just not refined sugars.  Honey and Agave nectar are excellent alternatives to sugar and raw honey has even been proven to have healing powers.  Many healthier choices can be used as alternatives to our traditional ingredients in some of our favorite treats.  Try a few of these really fun recipes and have your brownie and eat it too!

Applesauce Brownies

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 eggs

1 1/3 cup of raw honey or agave nectar

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 1/2 tbs of coconut oil (melted)

1 cup almond meal or coconut flour

1/2 tsp of sea salt

1/4 tsp of baking soda

Whisk eggs until they lighten in color. Combine with other ingredients and mix. Pour into 8x8-in pan lined with foil or parchment paper (or greased with your preferred oil). Bake at 350F for ~30-40 min. Remove from oven when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.

Fun With Fruit

Happy Easter everyone! Living in Louisiana, the tradition for Easter Sunday has always been a huge event with friends and family where everyone stuffs themselves full of sodium soaked crawfish and chase it down with a twelve pack of beer. By the end of the day, we're all loosening our belt loops and waddling like a bunch of ducks with broken legs to our cars. Today...all that changed!

My family decided to break tradition this year and spark up the ole grill instead. Everyone was asked to bring their meat of choice and a side dish. I decided on a nice mixed fruit salad full of color and pizazz!

I would love to tell you how it taste, but it was gone before it hit the table. Much to my surprise, the fruit went before the chocolate cake brought by my sister. It was super fast and easy to make and makes the perfect dessert for lounging by the pool or picnics at your local park. Below is a list of ingredients I used to make my "Summertime Salad". I've also included an additional dessert idea that is delicious and fun to make.

Summertime Salad

1 large orange (juiced)
2 large oranges (peeled and separated)
1 apple (peeled, cored, and diced)
4 kiwis (peeled and sliced into medallions)
3 bananas (peeled and sliced into medallions)
1 large tray of strawberries (cut into quarters)1 tray of blueberries
1 tray of blackberries
1 tbsp raw agave
Any additional fruit and nuts can be added at your discretion.

Combine the juice from 1 large orange with one tbsp of agave, mix all of the fruit together in a big bowl and pour the juice mixture over the mixed fruit. Serve and enjoy!

"I can't believe it's not Pudding!" Pie
3 avocados
1/4 cup raw agave
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp cocoa powder
3 tbsp almond butter
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp flavored extract (almond, vanilla, mint, etc.) optional
2 bananas
6 large strawberries
3 kiwis

Cut the kiwi, strawberries and bananas into medallions and set them to the side for now. In a large mixing bowl, combine all other ingredients and mix well. I found that using an electric mixer worked best for me. Stop when the consistency is similar to pudding. It's that simple.

Once you have finished making your Caveman pudding layer the banana, strawberry and kiwi along the bottom and sides of a glass pie dish creating a fruit crust. Pour the pudding mixture into the pie dish and decorate the top with the rest of your fruit. Chill in the fridge for a couple of hours and consume.

Fruit is a great source of nutrients for the body, packed with essential vitamins. Keep in mind that fruit also contains natural simple sugars (also called natural carbohydrates). Natural simple sugars are considered healthy because they include natural plant and fruit fibers, as long as the fruit is eaten and not just juiced. Although natural sugars are the only sugars we should be consuming, they too, should be consumed in moderation. As a general rule, I eat two large fruit per day (such as an apple, peach or orange). I also like to prepare fruit cups and keep them in my refrigerator for on-the-go snacks. Serving size is about a cup. Adding nuts (almonds, walnuts, etc.) to your fruit is a great way to add healthy fats to your snack. This too should be done in moderation (about 1/4 cup of nuts is sufficient). I also try to stay away from any type of fruit after 3pm. Except maybe an occasional glass of red wine. Which is Paleo BTW! Even Cavemen let loose from time to time. Just keep it to two serving per day.