Living Fudge

For those of you with a sweet tooth, especially a chocolate one, this post is for you. Well, to be fair, for a dessert these chunks of magic aren't terribly sweet. They will, however, tease your tongue with a touch of sugar, loads of deep cocoa flavor and plenty of rich coconut. The perfect finale to a special meal, this fudge is as unique as it is satisfying.

The kicker is that they actually contain live Alfalfa sprouts. Sprouts for dessert????? Yes my friends, it's true. Believe me, you will never know you are consuming little bursts of enzymatic wonder all while enjoying a decadent treat. In my friend Lylee's words, they are little piles of joy.

I recommend growing your own sprouts for this recipe. It is amazingly simple, and believe me, you will get addicted. There is nothing like watching a plant come to life in your kitchen, I swear it actually breathes life into the room.

Here is what you need:

2 tbs. of alfafa, radish or clover sprout seeds (you can find these at your local health food store, often in bulk)
1 quart size mason jar
Cheesecloth

Place the sprout seeds in the clean mason jar, fill with water to cover the seeds, fit a piece of cheesecloth on top and screw on the ring to secure (or use a rubber band).  Leave to soak overnight. In the morning, dispose of the water, fill and rinse once more, shake dry and leave to drain upside down (in a bowl or sink drainer). Continue to rinse morning and night, leaving inverted to drain in between, until your sprouts have reached the desired size. Sprouts should begin to appear within 1-2 days, and are usually done within 3-4. 


It is possible to sprout whole grains, nuts and seeds with the same process. Basically, you are bringing a dormant seed to life, and growing the start of a leaf stalk in your jar. Because of this special moment in the plant's life, when it is fighting to establish itself and survive, sprouts are extremely concentrated in certain protective nutrients (antioxidants) such as vitamin A and C, magnesium and chlorophyll (varying depending on the plant). To boot, the enzymatic activity is sky high. 



A few notes about the recipe before I begin. To make this a truly raw recipe use raw cacao powder. If you are a cheater (like I was last time), go ahead and make it with regular cocoa powder. Agave is a nice neutral sweetener with slightly malty notes, but it would be fun to experiment with raw honey or maple syrup as well. Be flexible with your sprouts too, clover sprouts are really nice as well. 






Living Fudge


3 cups shredded dried coconut
1/2 cup raw (or regular) cocoa powder
1/3 cup agave nectar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup alfalfa sprouts

In a large food processor, combine everything but the sprouts. and pulse until well blended. Add the sprouts and process until a large clump forms. At this point, you can press the fudge into a baking pan  to cut into traditional cubes, or press it into mini-muffin or tart pans for a more elegant presentation. Chill to harden. Serve with fresh, colorful fruit.

Relax. Eat Well.

Fall Flavors

I have to say, as far as flavors go, fall is my season. Dark and malty beers dominate the breweries, winter squash line the farmer's markets and apples seem to find their way into every meal, breakfast, dinner and dessert. Although it marks the impending doom of cold feet and icy driveways, fall is a true celebration of the harvest in all of it's glory. As a foodie, that means culinary heaven.

And so inspired by the earth's bounty, this harvest meal transpired in my kitchen twice last week. It could be served at a Thanksgiving feast or, more appropriately, in September or October, when the apples burst with juice, the green beans grow plump on their vines and heirloom squash dot the fields. If it was past the bean season, I might use hearty kale or swiss chard instead.

Harvest Menu:

Mesclun Salad topped with White Figs, Maple Gingered Walnuts and Shredded Beets in Balsamic Miso Dressing

Wild Rice stuffed Winter Squash

Sauteed Green Beans in Shallot Butter

Herb Baked Tofu

Winter squash is rich with Vitamin A and beta-carotene, two powerful antioxidants which have been shown to help protect against lung cancer in smokers as well as those exposed to second hand smoke. They also boast an impressive amount of potassium and dietary fiber, helping to regulate blood sugar levels while filling the belly. Plus they are absolutely delicious! Try picking up a heirloom variety at your local farmer's market for a new and interesting twist. Buttercup, kabocha, delicata, carnival and turban squash all have unique flavors and textures while holding up well when roasted. Smaller squash often yield thin skins and do not require peeling, since it is tender enough to eat whole. With their buttery texture and earthy flavor, winter squash are a perfect match for the deep comforting winter spices such as nutmeg, clove, cinnamon and cardamon. This recipe creates a spiced oil which is rubbed into the flesh of the squash and then roasted at high heat before being stuffed. The result is heavenly.

The second time I made this meal for a dinner party, I used extra small carnivals and each guest received their own individual stuffed squash. I cut each one like a pumpkin to remove the top and seeds, and served them upright with stuffing inside. It looked great! For a less fussy effect, they are also wonderful served in larger halves.

Wild Rice stuffed Winter Squash

Serves 6

3/4 cup wild rice

3/4 cup brown basmati rice

3 cups vegetable broth, or water

6 extra small or 3 medium squash (see notes above about varieties)

3 tbs. coconut oil

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. allspice

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

1 small onion, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

2 shallots, minced

1 medium apple, diced

1/4 tsp. thyme

1/4 tsp. sage

1/4 cup currants

1/4 cup pistachios, toasted and chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Put both rices and stock (or water) in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a very low simmer, cover and cook until all of the liquid has been absorbed, about 35-45 minutes.

In the meantime, cut into the squash (from the top like a pumpkin if using very small individual serving squash or in half if using larger ones) and remove the seeds and pulp. Combine 2 tbs. of coconut oil and the salt, allspice, cinnamon and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Place the bowl in the oven for a few minutes until oil has melted. Using a pastry brush, brush the inside of the squash with the spiced oil to create a generous coat. Place the squash upside down on a cookie sheet and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until quite soft when pierced with a fork and beginning to brown. Set aside.

To prepare the stuffing, heat the remaining tbs. of coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute the onions until soft and golden, for about 5 minutes. Add the celery, shallots and apple and continue to saute for another 3 minutes. Add the thyme, sage and currants and cook for one more minute. Deglaze the pan with a touch of water. Mix in the prepared rice and salt to taste.

To serve, stuff each squash with wild rice filling and top with chopped pistachios.

Relax. Eat Well.