Raw Cacao Truffles

Oh. My. Goodness. These are so delicious. I don't think I'll ever buy a chocolate bar again after seeing how easy they are to make. They taste way better and are much healthier than store-bought chocolate. YUM! Plus, they have maca, one of my favorite super foods. Maca is an herb from the Andes region in South America and is most famously known for it's aphrodisiac properties. It also an adaptaogen, which is one of my favorite kinds of herb. Adaptogenic means that it works differently in every body according to what is needed. If you have too much of something it will down-regulate. If you have too little of something it will up-regulate. I love smart herbs! It's so amazing that they can do that. Maca also helps regulate libido, tissue function, depression, and sexual development. It has a reputation for being "herbal viagra" because it is particularly good at improving libido and sexual function in men. Make a batch and share with your sweet heart!

2 cups raw cacao nibs
2 oz. cocoa powder
generous 3/4 cup of raw almond butter
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 1/2 tbsp liquid vanilla
3 tbsp melted coconut butter
1 tbsp maca powder
1/3 + 2 tbsp cup of raw honey

Grind the cocoa nibs in a coffee grinder until they become a fine powder. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Scoop out small balls with an ice cream scooper and place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Put in the fridge and allow them to firm. (1-2 hours should do it)

**Pro tip- play with some flavor variations. Next time I make these I think I will add a pinch of cayenne and cinnamon. Orange zest, mint and whatever else you can think of would surely make a delicious addition. You could also use yacon syrup or agave if you wanted to make them vegan.

Raw Strawberry-Apple Pie

This pie is so sweet and delicious it’s hard to believe it’s healthy. This is a definite favorite in my circle of friends- even among the non-health enthusiasts and epicureans.

4½ cups of nuts- either walnuts, pecans or a mixture of the two

7 dates

2 apples

1 small basket of strawberries

1½ tbsp. Vanilla

2½ tbsp. Cinnamon

Pie Pan

Place 5 dates and nuts in the food processor and blend until somewhat uniform. Add vanilla, 2 tbsp. cinnamon and salt and blend for 30 more seconds. Press 3/4 of mixture into a pie pan forming the crust. Shred apple in the food processor and set aside in a large mixing bowl. Slice strawberries by hand and add to mixing bowl. Place 2 strawberries, 2 dates and ½ tbsp. cinnamon in the food processor. Blend until smooth. Add the strawberry glaze to the mixing bowl and stir to coat. Pile the fruit mixture into the pie crust, topping it with the remainder of the crust as a "crumble" topping. It can be enjoyed immediately or put into the fridge to firm up a bit.