Food

Cherry Almond Brownie Bites

I’m always on the hunt for a quick and easy homemade chocolate fix. These little cherry almond brownie bites did not disappoint. Not only did they satisfy my chocolate craving, they also have a tart zing from the dried cherries. The last three ingredients in the below recipe are listed as optional, because I was making these up as I went along. They tasted great with just the top four ingredients, but a little TOO much zing for Mr. Zucchini Runner! Adding the coconut oil and vanilla bean helped to mellow it out. The maca powder is totally optional. I just added that so we got a little adaptogen action in our system. I also loved using the almonds in this recipe versus the pecans from my other, similar raw brownie recipe. Almonds are lower in fat and calories, higher in protein and add some visual interest with the contrasting colors. You can really use any nut you want or have on hand however.

Another fun fact about these bites, is they are NO BAKE! So that saves on some of the prep time.

cherry almond brownie bites

 

Cherry Almond Brownie Bites
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Cherry Almond Brownie Bites

Using a tablespoon, measure out dough and shape into a ball.

Ingredients

1 c. almonds (preferably soaked and dehydrated - I will be covering this in my next post)

1/2 c. dried tart cherries

1/2 c. Medjool dates, pitted

5 TBS raw cacao powder

1 tsp. raw maca powder (optional)

1 tsp. organic, unrefined coconut oil (optional - to add some moisture, ensuring dough is sticky)

1 vanilla bean, scraped (optional - don't sub vanilla extract)

Instructions

    Process the almonds in a food processor until coarsely chopped.

    Add the tart cherries, dates, cacao powder and maca (if using); process until well combined.

    If the mixture seems a little dry, you can add one teaspoon of coconut oil, ensuring you distribute it evenly around the processing bowl, so it doesn't clump in one spot. Process until well incorporated.

    Add the inside scrapings of the vanilla bean and add to the processing bowl in a similar way as the coconut oil. Process again.

    Using a tablespoon, measure out 1 TBS of dough by pressing firmly into the measuring spoon. Scoop out and firmly shape into a ball, for a nice bite-sized treat!

    Store in the refrigerator or freezer. Makes about 15-18 bites, depending on how much you taste test along the way!

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https://www.zucchinirunner.com/2015/02/15/cherry-almond-brownie-bites/

What is your favorite chocolate-loaded treat?

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Huppybar Review and Giveaway

Recently I was lucky enough to stumble upon a new whole foods bar — made right here in the gorgeous state of Arizona — which meets my stringent food guidelines. You may remember me talking about them in my Gaspin’ in the Aspen race recap back in August. I was delirious from lack of oxygen, just having finished my 15k trail run, but the free sample’s Lyndsay Hupp was dispersing still caught my eye! I stumbled over to her booth with wobbly knees and talked to her briefly about her bars. They seemed to fit the bill perfectly.

Here is a list of the ingredients found in the pecan orange spice flavor: (*ORGANIC): Nuts & Seeds (almonds, sunflower seeds*, sesame seeds*, flax seeds*, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, cashews), oats*, tapioca syrup*, raisins*, locally sourced honey, apples*, pear and pineapple juice concentrate, nutritional yeast, sea salt, cinnamon*, spirulina, vanilla extract*

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I could actually see the ingredients in the bar, and while giving a quick scan of the label I recognized everything… and approved! For me it was a bonus that she made them herself and wasn’t part of a giant company — she was local to AZ and was selling them in select stores and online. Perfect! Since that day, I’ve purchased 2 boxes of the orange pecan spice bars — my favorite!

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I love to eat them as a healthy snack during the day when I don’t have time to make myself food (because let’s be honest, even healthy eaters want some access to convenience foods!). I’ve used them for a variety of tummy grumbling needs: before a long run, before a hike, during a hike, after a hike or run to refuel, or simply sitting at my desk working.

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Huppybar’s are also good when you are spectating at a volleyball tournament with no healthy food in sight! This was my first taste of the coconut date ginger flavor, and while I liked it, pecan orange spice is still my fav! <3

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After snapping this pic during a 7.7 mile hike in Sedona, I took a seat on a rock and enjoyed my Huppybar.

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Ahhhhh… it was just the right amount of fuel I needed to keep going!

These bars do not taste fake or processed and because of that, I love them! I never feel bad for eating one; well that’s a lie. With each bar I eat, I know I’m slowly dwindling down my supply and that makes me sad! Maybe for box #3 I will order an assortment… 🙂 Huppybars come in five flavors after all: coconut date ginger, chocolate java, chocolate berry love, apple cinnamon raisin and of course orange pecan spice! This sort of brings me to the giveaway part, this box pictured below with 12 Huppybars COULD BE YOURS. All you need to do, is keep reading. 😉

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I want to be sure I have your full attention when I talk a little bit more about Huppybars. Not only are they a healthy convenient snack, but I personally feel relieved that there are other people like me out there. Lyndsay had me as a customer for life when I read this on her site:

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Photo couresty of Huppybar.com

LYNDSAY IS A BELIEVER IN TAKING A CONSCIOUS ROLE IN ONE’S OWN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING THROUGH GOOD DIET AND ADEQUATE EXERCISE. IT WAS THIS BELIEF THAT LED TO THE CREATION OF HUPPYBARS IN THE FIRST PLACE.  A WIDE-ANGLE VIEW OF THE VISION IS FOR OUR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE TO TAKE MORE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR HEALTH.  OBESITY IS RUNNING RAMPANT IN THE UNITED STATES. PEOPLE SUFFER FROM MALNUTRITION IN THE FACE OF ABUNDANCE. IMAGINE IF ALL THE RESOURCES AND HEALTHCARE MONIES ALLOCATED TO THE OBESITY EPIDEMIC WERE INSTEAD DIRECTED TO BETTER EDUCATING OUR KIDS, FIGHTING REAL HUNGER ISSUES, AND CREATING A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR US ALL.

Wow.

Couldn’t agree more! Here is the whole “Tale of the Huppy” story if you are interested.

Huppybars are also soy, dairy, cane sugar and corn sugar FREE. Music to my ears. Lyndsay also told me she is in the process of getting certified gluten-free oats so that her bars will also be gluten-free as well. Keep your eyes out for an updated package design from Huppybars too — change is on the horizon!

So, how can you get your hands on some Huppybars of your own? Well, you could purchase them directly from their site OR you can enter the #RunEatTweetAZ giveaway! (Do you know how hard it is to have this box sitting 10 feet from me?! All five flavors and I can’t eat any of them. They are for YOU. The lucky winner!!)

TO ENTER:

1) LIKE the Huppybar post on the #RunEatTweetAZ Facebook page.

2) COMMENT on that same post with how YOU would enjoy your box of Huppybars!

DEADLINE TO ENTER IS 7 A.M. PST FRIDAY OCTOBER 31ST. Winner will be announced at 8 a.m. on the #RunEatTweetAZ Facebook page.

*Bonus entry if you SHARE the post!

Show Huppybar some social media love and give them a follow!

• Like Huppybar on Facebook
• Follow Huppybar on Twitter

Best of luck to you!