No matter how old you are, what you like to do or where your place in life is, everyone loves a delicious sweet treat every now and then. Lovely chocolate slices and delectable sweets are an incredible way to treat yourself.
However, we all know that too many chocolates and sweets can be bad for us. So, is there a way we can enjoy delicious sweets while staying healthy?
In fact, there are heaps of incredible recipes out there that are delicious, organic and healthy! So you can enjoy delightful sweet snacks while remaining thoughtful and health-conscious.
We’ve all had sugary chocolate cakes and cookies before, but we also know that a lot of those treats that we get from the local market are filled with unhealthy components.
Additionally, you could also try to create excellent sweet treats yourself at home by combining ingredients like chocolate, coconut, various kinds of nuts and more. Although, even if you are making them yourself, it can be hard to know how to make your recipes healthier while maintaining their fantastic tastes.
But, there are a lot of ways chocolate can be used and incorporated into sweet treats that are wholesome, organic, gluten-free and healthy. So, yes, you can enjoy heavenly chocolate slices without consuming overwhelming amounts of unhealthy additives.
Five delightfully tempting ways that chocolate can be incorporated into tasty sweet treats are:
Chocolate Hazelnut Slices. There is something wonderfully unique about a simple chocolate slice. Simple, familiar ingredients combine to create an easy yet delightful treat that the whole family can enjoy.
These chocolate hazelnut slices take that simple, familiar treat and elevate it to a heavenly degree. This incredible delight is created by taking a wholesome and classic chocolate slice recipe and adding perfectly toasted hazelnuts to enhance the taste and make it memorable.
The hazelnuts used are organic and locally grown. This wonderful treat is dairy and gluten-free and topped with splendidly crunchy buckwheat seeds on a bed of organic chocolate.
Raspberry Vanilla Chocolate Bar. If you aren’t in the right mood for chocolate slices, then stunning chocolate bars are the way to go. Chocolate pairs incredibly well with a plethora of other ingredients - if you can dream it, chances are an intuitive chef out there has made and tried it before.
One classic pairing that has been used for years is chocolate and berries. This chocolate berry bar starts as a wholesome almond base with a yummy vanilla and raspberry mousse on top, and then it is coated in a layer of delicious chocolate.
This treat is also notable in the way that it is free from refined sugar. Instead, it is sweetened with organic dates and lovely agave, making this bar vegan as well.
Peppermint Mousse Chocolate Bar. Another classic pairing is the combination of smooth chocolate and minty peppermint. The delightful freshness of organic peppermint perfectly compliments the deep smooth flavour of chocolate, coming together to form a decadent treat that everyone can enjoy.
This excellent peppermint mousse chocolate bar starts with a crunchy almond base, is topped with heavenly organic peppermint mousse and then coated in tempting chocolate.
Just like the excellent raspberry vanilla chocolate bar listed above, this treat is flavoured with organic dates and agave. This bar’s ingredients make it dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan and free from refined sugars.
Orange Chocolate Bar. Chocolate and orange flavouring is yet another incredible combination that helps create special sweet treats and chocolate slices.
This tasty bar is made of pure raw chocolate and topped with zesty powdered orange peel. Among the ingredients are also healthy almonds, raisins, dates, cashew nuts and pleasantly sweet agave.
Although not everyone loves the pairing of chocolate and orange zest, if you are still unsure of where you stand, we are absolutely confident that our orange chocolate bars will make you adore this enticing combination.
Chocolate Mousse Deluxe Mini Tart. If you are looking for something even more elegant and fancy, then this outstandingly tempting tart is proper for you. Everyone deserves to spoil themselves occasionally, and this is the perfect dessert to make you feel pampered and worth it.
This incredible tart goes beyond classic chocolate slices and bars to deliver a taste that will not soon be forgotten. Once you and your family have finished this special treat, you will start wondering when is the next time you can order it again!
Starting with cacao and activated almond base, this tart is flawlessly enhanced with layers of chocolate mousse and airy vanilla mousse. It can be sweetened with lovely natural honey but can also be made vegan with agave instead.
Additionally, it can be topped with incredible coconut chocolate orbs to make it even better.
Are you craving some delicious treats now? At Make It Raw, we create fabulous desserts that are healthy, wholesome and utterly delectable. We have chocolate slices, fun tarts, nutritious crackers and more!
Chocolate makes for an incredible gift, no matter what occasion you are celebrating. Family members, loved ones, partners and even coworkers will all light up with joy when you show them the delightful treats you have brought to share.
Although you might wonder about the healthy side of sweet treats, you should know that raw and organic chocolate comes with plenty of health benefits! Raw and dark chocolate can provide you with heaps of nutritious minerals. So, you and your loved ones can indulge in these elegant treats while staying healthy.
If you would like to speak to us about our treats, or if you would like to place a special order now, please get in touch with our friendly team at 0276463092. Whether you are looking for specific flavours, have dietary restrictions or simply want to know more about our process, we will be happy to talk to you!
Treat yourself with deliciously wholesome treats from our shop at Make It Raw - you deserve it!
]]>There is a reason why food is a big part of many holidays. We gather with our friends and family during many celebrations to enjoy each other's company while enjoying great food and drink. Just like monumental events, when celebrating special days with your loved ones, you can appreciate their company while savouring good food by giving them wonderful sweet treats.
Exceptional sweets can make your heart sing, and you can share those feelings with your special someone by giving them beautiful and creative confections.
However, when giving someone a present, you have a plethora of options to choose from. So why should you specifically decide to give your loved ones sweet desserts rather than jewellery or anything else?
Food is something that everyone in the world enjoys, and it is something that we all have in common. Everyone loves to sit down and savour a nice treat every now and again, no matter what kind of life they have.
But, even if we all enjoy good food, why precisely do treats make fantastic presents? Some delightful perks that you should be aware of when picking out sweet treats for your loved ones are:
There Are Many Different Kinds Of Treats To Choose From. When picking out some lovely sweets for your sweetie, you do not have to limit yourself to just cookies or chocolate - there are heaps of options for you to browse through.
From vibrant, healthy citrus slices to classic chocolate bars, you have a world of flavourful tastes to choose from. While most of us love sweets, not all of us love every kind of dessert, and you can select a treat that you know your loved one will particularly find delightful.
Sugary Sweets Make People Happy. There's a great reason why people often choose to treat themselves with heavenly cakes and delicious sweets - sugar puts smiles on peoples' faces. The carbohydrates in sugary sweet treats help you produce serotonin and dopamine, which are also known as the 'happy hormones.'
Lack of serotonin and dopamine may lead to depression, aggression and irritability. So, giving people delectable desserts may boost their mood and make them happier.
You Have Healthy Options As Well. Contrary to popular belief, just because you are trying to eat healthier does not mean that you have to cut out sweets altogether. There are many healthy options available to you that are just as tasty as less healthy treats; in fact, they are often even more delicious!
For example, if your loved one loves nutty, healthy flavours, you could choose to give them delicious granola bars. Flavourful granola, appetising crackers and incredible banana bars can make for excellent gifts.
Additionally, this also gives you a much more extensive selection of goods to pick from. If you head down to your local supermarket and cannot find treats that meet your needs, you can head online to find heaps of snacks that are perfect for you. Then, the most challenging part will be narrowing down your choices instead of buying them all!
Expertly Created Sweet Treats Are Works Of Art. If you order treats that are made and decorated by incredibly talented bakers, you will be receiving edible works of art. An outstanding example of this is dessert tarts. Some artful pastries are so gorgeous you won't want to eat them - but when you do, you'll be happy you did!
Tarts are both gorgeous and absolutely delicious and will surely make for a jaw-dropping gift that'll put a smile on your loved one's face. If you are looking for something that is truly unique and stunning, you can order a custom flavoured tart and choose flavours that you know your loved one adores.
Beautiful Treats Are An Affordable Luxury. Many beautiful things in life can cost quite a bit of money. Jewellery, for example, can be stunning but may also take a chunk out of your bank account. Another reason why sweet treats make for a fantastic gift is that they are affordable while making you feel like pampered royalty.
Although some skillfully made sweets will cost you more than what you could pick up at a local market, they are still very affordable. So you can share a lovely moment with your special someone without sacrificing an unreasonable amount of money.
Everyone Loves Chocolate. One of the biggest reasons why sweets make incredible gifts is simple; everyone loves chocolate! Even a simple chocolate bar is enough to make most people happy. Because of this, the classic, smooth sweetness of delicious chocolate is a fantastic gift.
Chocolate pairs outstandingly well with many different flavours and can be used to create extraordinary desserts. Chocolate treats made with caramel, fruit, nuts, or even just different kinds of chocolate together are all excellent gift choices.
Are you currently searching for the perfect gift for a loved one? Do you want to give them something delicious that they will want more of? Then look no further than Make It Raw's delightful selection of flavourful treats. All of our desserts are organic, raw and gluten-free.
We are passionate about providing New Zealanders with incredible treats that are not only delicious but also wholesome and healthy as well. So if you would like to speak to our team about ordering some fabulous desserts for yourself or a loved one, please get in touch with us at 0276463092.
There are so many reasons why sweets make for excellent gifts, and you will surely understand all of them when you try them yourself! So treat yourself and your loved ones with healthful, nutritious and visually stunning sweet treats from Make It Raw!
]]>It’s hard to believe that a popular first choice sweet treat for many people these days was discovered centuries ago by the Aztec Empire of the Americas. Yes, we’re talking about chocolate! However the way we consume chocolate today is vastly different to how the Aztec people did.
Most companies these days don’t source ingredients that were farmed naturally, and rather choose higher production over good quality products. Organic chocolate bars are made with natural ingredients, which keeps all the healthy goodness in the final product.
However, if you’re still needing some convincing, here are 5 reasons you should eat organic chocolate bars.
1. For Your Own Personal Joy
You may be wondering, ‘what actually makes a chocolate bar organic?’, and the answer is quite simple! Organic chocolate bars are made with sugar and cacao that were grown through organic farming methods, meaning synthetic chemicals, such as man made pesticides and fertilizers, weren’t used in the cultivation process. When eating an organic chocolate bar, you can rest assured that it was made from natural ingredients without being exposed to harmful chemicals that aren’t good for your health. This also means that organic chocolate bars can be a healthy snack option! But hey, you don’t need to be the only one enjoying all this goodness. Organic chocolate bars are typically less saturated with sugar, meaning you can also share it with your kids without having to worry about them consuming too much sugar. Bring your whole family joy by making tasty treats from organic chocolate bars.
A surprising fact about organic chocolate bars is that they essentially contain the same properties as a bowl of fruit. That may sound too good to be true, but it’s the truth! In an organic chocolate bar you’ll find over 300 healthy properties such as copper, magnesium, zinc, sulfur and B-vitamins, all of which are common properties found in a bowl of fruit. Because organic chocolate bars are so rich in these healthy properties, they make for a great boost in energy. Who would have guessed that a chocolate bar could be a healthy go-to for an energy boost?
What do you grab when feeling like a sweet treat? Do you consider chocolate bars to be your guilty pleasure? While there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself to something sweet every now and again, you can let go of the idea that chocolate is only bad for you by switching to organic chocolate bars! Not only are they a delicious snack on their own, organic chocolate bars can be incorporated into many different kinds of desserts. Using organic rather than conventional chocolate bars brings all of the good properties we mentioned earlier into any sweet treat you make. This results in a much healthier alternative that still satisfies your craving for something sweet, so say so long to the days of feeling guilty about snacking on some chocolate.
We’ve all heard it before, if you want to live a long and fulfilling life you need to maintain a healthy and balanced diet, but that doesn’t mean you have to forgo sweet treats entirely. The truth is that not only do organic chocolate bars boost your energy levels, surprisingly they also contain toxin-fighting properties as well as other healthy properties that help to reduce cholesterol levels. Organic chocolate bars contain antioxidants known as flavonoids that help your body to ward off toxins you may come across in everyday life. Flavonoids are also cancer-fighting antioxidants, and are commonly found in many fruits and vegetables as well. So replacing conventional chocolate bars with organic ones, as well as maintaining an overall healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables too is a sure fire way to a long, healthy life. You may be thinking that saying chocolate bars can help reduce cholesterol must be too good to be true, but because of the healthy properties organic chocolate bars contain, ingesting them does actually help lower cholesterol levels. So you can rest assured knowing that they’re a healthier alternative to a conventional one when indulging in an organic chocolate bar.
5. Better For Everyone
Ingredients that are grown naturally compared to ones cultivated with synthetic chemicals are significantly better for you as well as the farmers and the environment. As mentioned before, cacao and sugar are the staple ingredients behind chocolate, growing these ingredients with synthetic chemicals and fertilizers can be dangerous for the farmers caring for them as they’re linked to various negative effects on one’s health. Most farmers don’t have the protective gear necessary to lessen the risk of exposure either, making them vulnerable to these chemicals. Organic chocolate however is cultivated with organic and biodynamic fertilizers as well as pest deterrents, instead of synthetic chemicals. These natural methods are much better for both the crops and the farmers, allowing them to work without putting themselves, or the wider community, at risk. Unsurprisingly, these harmful chemicals are also detrimental to the environment. Made with the intention of killing off any unwanted insects or plants, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides all end up harming the immediate area as well, which can cause immense damage to the delicate local ecosystem. As organic chocolate bars source ingredients from farms that don’t use these chemicals, choosing to purchase and consume organic chocolate bars instead of conventional ones, helps the environment as you’re supporting these alternative farms and increasing the demand in the market for more eco-friendly products. Don’t forget, by eating organic chocolate bars you’re also avoiding the risk of consuming these harmful chemicals too.
Organic chocolate bars are much better for you, for the environment and even for the farmers that produce the ingredients for them. You don’t have to forgo desserts to live a healthy lifestyle, with the right balance of fruits and vegetables, organic chocolate bars can be a beneficial addition to your diet.
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Hi! Kirsten here :) I'm the sister of Make It Raw (ie Julia)
I've been adding to the Make It Raw social media and helping Julz since moving back to Christchurch from in Australia in March.
One of my favourite things is getting vegetables with the tops still attached. To me, it is like getting two veges for the price of one. Call me cheap, call me frugal, I can’t deny I love a two for one deal.
Take beetroot for example. At the farmers market you have people sell beets, you have people selling salad greens. I always seem to spy beet greens adding colour to the pretty bags of mesclun leaves. Why buy the products individually when you could get your greens straight from the source (from the root you could say... ) No packaging, no plastic, just tasty greens attached to a tasty root.
Over the years I have expanded my leaf eating habits and pallet to include so many typically discarded parts of our favourite veges. Steamed broccoli leaves anyone? Slow roasted kale ribs? Celery leaf added to homemade vege stock? Crispy spiced cauliflower leaves? Yum yum yum yum.
I think it comes partly from living in apartments where I have no way to compost my scraps (thus not really wasting them). I hate throwing scraps out so even though I do now have a composting system, I will often save scraps in the freezer and add to the stock pot before finally gifting them to the worms.
Some of my favourite things (that you might not think of) to add to stocks are cheese rinds, whey (leftover from making ricotta, super high in protein, but that could be a whole other post..), dried mushrooms, (clean) potato peelings or pumpkin peels and last but not least, fennel fronds. But this was never meant to be all about soup!
I have recently discovered carrot tops and they have made an impact! I started off by requesting Julia’s trusty pesto recipe. A super tasty addition to (you guessed it) Make it Raw’s cornerstone product, crackers. Carrot top discovery to be continued below.
Easy Carrot Top Pesto
1 bunch of carrot tops
1 handful of leafy herbs
50g nuts
20g parmesan or nutritional yeast
100ml of olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Blitz everything (except oil) in a food processor. Slowly add oil until pesto consistency is achieved. Season to taste.
Due to my food processor being in storage in Australia (thanks ‘rona) I had to chop finely which meant my pesto was more of a crumble. Still tasty though.
Next on my carrot adventure was a Takeaway favourite - Palak Paneer.
Carrot Top Paneer
Clean and roughly chop carrot tops and blanche in boiling water then straight into iced water (this keeps the beautiful vibrant green). Blend the blanched carrot tops along with tomato, 3 cloves of garlic, ginger and green chilli. Puree to a smooth paste and set aside.
Sauté chopped onions until soft and add the greens & about a cup of stock (or whey).
Let the mixture cook for about 10min then add a sprinkle of salt to taste, a teaspoon of garam masala and some chilli.
Add cubes of paneer (or firm tofu for a vegan curry)
When the greens mixture is cooked add a cup of cream (or coconut cream) and a squeeze of lemon and turn the heat right down, until your rice is cooked.
Yum.
Paneer is also a super easy cheese to whip up yourself. Here is Jamie giving you the tea on paneer.
https://www.jamieoliver.com/features/how-to-make-and-use-paneer/
The whey that comes in abundance from making any kind of cheese is full of good protein. I have found that it has a mildly sweet flavour so adding it to soups or a curry works a treat.
Hope you enjoy cooking up a storm this winter!
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This recipe is for one serving, one jar of tasty breakfast pudding! For every extra human you need to feed just add another jar of pudding! In the morning you can add everyone's favourite toppings and get really creative!! Frozen berries are great for when there isn't too much fresh fruit in season, but in summer and autumn you can add what ever is falling off everyone's trees! (I'm looking at you feijoa tree!)
I love using our Apple & Cinnamon Grawnola or crushed Make it Raw Banana Bars as a flavourful topping. Pumpkin seeds, crushed nuts, dried fruit, nut butter and honey also make great toppings. The beauty here is that you don't need to go out and get anything specific in this dish. Chia seeds last for ages and don't take up much room, so you always have a tasty breaky on hand! You can also make a few puddings Sunday night and have them on hand throughout the week.
I use Pic's Peanut Butter jars for this breaky at home because they are the perfect size! These are a standard jar size so whatever you have in the cupboard will work.
Serves One
2 Tbsp Chia Seeds
1/2 C Liquid (Nutmilk, Water + Coconutcream, Coconut water, Cows Milk etc)
The night before - Put both ingredients in your serving jar and give it a stir then a gooooood shake! You want to make sure there aren't too many seeds clumped together as they might not evenly soak. The good thing is, even if some are still a bit crunchy they are still tasty!
In the morning - Add your favourite toppings and away you go!
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I first made this Banoffee Pie for Christmas day last year and it was a hit!! With limited equipment, measuring cups and utensils I had to wing it (frying pan as a tart tin?? Yes it worked!!), luckily it turned out deliciously well!
Here is the recipe with real measurements so you can create this gluten, dairy, refined sugar free and vegan dessert for yourself.
The importance of mindful snacking came to my attention the other evening as I attempted to baby wrangle and cook dinner whilst hungry as only breastfeeding mummas can be! As I dove into my jar of Sundried Tomato and Almond Crackers I realised that if I didn’t make this a mindful moment then I would most probably eat more than I needed and potentially ruin my appetite for dinner. So I got out a plate and arranged my three crackers, spread some chipotle aioli on them, sat down on the sofa and took a deep breath. Ten minutes later, after reading a story to Olive and slowly eating my crackers, I felt refreshed and able to make it until dinner. Although it felt counter-productive to sit down at that busy time, in actual fact it had the opposite effect. How often do we ‘push through’ and then take twice as long to do something as we would if we had a brief break to recharge?
This Chipotle Aioli is crazy delicious. It is also very versatile; drizzle it over your yoga/abundance bowl, spread on crackers or in a sandwich, dip vege sticks into it, add it to a cheese platter for a vegan option and it’s great on baked kumara or potato. Chipotle isn’t raw so if you are wanting 100% raw you could substitute with sundried tomatoes and chilli.
Ingredients:
1c cashew, soaked 2 hours
⅔-1c fresh water
1Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1Tbsp chipotle (or more if you like it HOT)
1/2tsp salt
Method:
Rinse your cashews and place them in your blender with the other ingredients. Start by only adding 2/3c water adding more as needed. Blend everything on high until it is super smooth. Pop it into a bowl and chill in the fridge for an hour. Enjoy!
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