Raw Superfood Energy Balls, Quick & Easy Recipe

 

 

These are a healthy filling no bake snack you can use for breakfast on the go or car journeys to curb hunger pangs! Tasty with a hot drink instead of biscuits or chocolate bar! Organic, gluten/wheat/grain free, vegan and raw, these energy balls are very versatile you can just add your favourite ingredients.  You don’t even need a food processor for this one, unless you are making your own ground almonds from scratch!  The raw cacao is packed with antioxidants, minerals and vitamins and helps elevate your mood by boosting serotonin and you get a chocolate fix all in one go! If you are not keen on the cacao you can simply leave it out, these are tasty enough just plain.  There are lots of different recipes on the net we recommend checking out Deliciously Ella and look up 21 fantastic benefits of cacao  on Daily Superfood Love which has links to other recipes using this powerful superfood.

Raw Superfood Energy Balls

250g organic ground almonds (almond flour – please check as some labelled almond flour is mixed with wheat)

125g organic dessicated coconut

1 tablespoon raw virgin coconut oil*

1 tablespoon organic maple syrup (optional but recommend if you like to sweeten!)

2 tablespoons raw cacao powder

Put ground almonds and dessicated coconut into a bowl.  Melt down the coconut oil (don’t microwave – just stand coconut oil in a dish within another dish of boiled water) and just wait for it to melt, add the maple syrup to this mixture once melted. *a tablespoon is hard to measure prior to melting but a good dollop in a spoon should do you can always add more!

Blend all of it together, it may still feel quite dry but usually as you squeeze mould the mixture into balls it binds together, if it doesn’t just add a bit more melted coconut oil but don’t overdo as will become too sticky.  Place on a plate and put in the fridge to set and they’ll ready in a couple of hours.  If you need them quicker, put in freezer for 20 minutes!

You can add vanilla extract, chia seeds, and adjust as you like or experiment!  I added cardamom and cayenne pepper to mine and they were delicious!  What other ingredients could you think of to add to this?

 

Bon appétit & Blessings!

Sue xx

PS we have many ingredients off the shelf at The Little Barn Gift Shop, Scrapps Hill Farm, Worting Road, Basingstoke, Hants RG23 8PU or you can go online http://www.eoco.org.uk/acatalog/SuperFoods.html

 

Epsom Salts – Simple Home Spa!

Epsom Salts – Spa Experience at Home!

Bathing in Epsom salts is an age old remedy and one of the best, easiest and most economical ways to treat stress, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, water retention, aches & pains and detoxify. When combined with asphalia sleep remedy an excellent night’s sleep is almost guaranteed even for the most chronic insomniacs.

Epsom salt is pure magnesium sulphate which when absorbed through the skin during bathing draws out toxins (including heavy metals), sedates the nervous system, relaxes muscles, reduces swelling and alleviates aches & pains. Magnesium improves nerve function and binds serotonin – a mood-elevating chemical that creates a feeling of well-being and relaxation.  It’s brilliant for those who suffer from fibromyalgia for these reasons.
It can also alleviate restless legs, PMT, muscle cramps, lower blood pressure and ease migraines and has many other benefits. Epsom salts are extremely versatile and can also be used to get rid of splinters, use as a body and face scrub and hair volumizer. It is a natural exfoliator and softens skin – it is especially useful in hardwater areas.

Models such as Elle McPherson and Heidi Klum bathe in Epsom salts prior to a shoot to lose up to 5lbs in body weight and reduce cellulite.

If, like me you love pure essential oils, add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to the salts before you dissolve them in the bath.

An excellent all round DIY therapy – just add water!

Blessings,

Sue