Monday, November 8, 2010

Bucky Bars


After a few weeks of experimentation with my new Excalibur dehydrator (!) I am finally concocting some notable recipes. This snack bar turned out very similar to the Two Mom's In the Raw bars, which are very tasty and equally expensive. They are a great snack to have on the go, dipped into hot tea, or crumbled and topped with nut milk, yogurt, or fresh fruit. Any combination of dried fruit, added super foods, or nuts/seeds could be added. If persimmons are unavailable any soft fruit will substitute such as pear or mango.


Bucky Bar Recipe:

-3 cups sprouted and dehydrated buckwheat*
-1 cup dried apples chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
-6 dates
-2 ripe persimmons
-1 tablespoon coconut oil
-1 tablespoon honey
-1/8 cup water
-1 tablespoon chia seeds
-pinch of sea salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg

Place dehydrated spouted buckwheat and chopped apples in large bowl and set aside. Put dates, persimmons, coconut oil, honey, and water into food processor and blend until everything is evenly mixed, but not completely homogenized. Pour this mixture over buckwheat and apples and mix in chia, sea salt and spices. Turn over mixture with spatula until buckwheat is evenly coated. Spread unto paraflexx or standard dehydrator sheet 1/4 inch thick. Dehydrate at 105 degrees for 5 to 8 hours depending on your desired texture. (closer to 8 will give you a crunchy texture but the fruit still remains soft) Cut into desired sized bars and store in sealed container for three weeks or in the freezer for longer.

*spouted dehydrated buckwheat
Soak raw buckwheat grouts in twice as much water over night. Drain water and rinse well. Place buckwheat in an inverted glass jar with a bowl to catch water. Rinse buckwheat as often as possible, at least three times for the first day. When little tails emerge from the buckwheat it is ready to use. Place in dehydrator for 5 hours at 105/110 degrees, or until all moisture is absorbed. Store in airtight container for up to one month.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Anything-Goes Green Dip


The holiday festivities are drawing near, bringing an apprehensive excitement to many. Where many feel a nostalgic pull to indulge in traditional holiday fare, I crave the foods I do everyday. With that said I honor the love that family and friends put into their meal preparations. But truthfully, I can respect that compassion while selectively filling my plate. I do love to eat. I love to to eat the fresh, seasonal, local bounty that should adorn our tables. Some years it's fun to go all out with main courses and the fixings, but other times it's just as well to bring a veggie tray and dip. I am leaning towards the later this year, and put this preemptive dip together for such event. The recipe is a super simple template that can be adapted to the ingredients on hand. Where I inadvertently purchased asparagus from Mexico, a local green will do superbly.

Anything-Goes Green Dip

-8-12 asparagus spears or 1/2 head kale, a bunch of spinach, brussel sprouts, or green beans)
-1 avocado
-1 carrot
-juice of one lemon + one lime
-1/4 bunch of parsley
-1/2 bunch fresh dill
-1/4 cup water
-1 green onion
-optional: garlic and cayenne

Place all ingredients in food processor or high speed blender and whirl away. Add more water if mixture is too thick. Stores in fridge for up to two days.